Armed Forces Set For African Military Championship

The Gambia Armed forces Football team will leave Banjul on Friday November 28th2008 for Uganda to represent The Gambia in the African Military Football Championship (OFMA) which is to be held in Uganda in December.

Speaking to Pointsports, Major Seckan, commander of the Fajara Training School and also responsible for the team affairs, revealed that The Gambia, as defending champions of the 2007 WALO championship, and Guinea Conakry, the runner ups, will represent West Africa in the African Military Football Championship in Uganda.

Major Seckan pointed out that eight countries from four different zones in Africa will take part in the championship in Uganda.

He highlighted that for a successful participation of The Gambia in the championship, different committees have already been put in place since a number of months ago.

"The tournament's best three teams in Uganda championship will automatically book a place in the World championship, which will be organised by the World Military Sport Competition (CSIM)" Major Seckan revealed.

Meanwhile Head Coach, Alhagie Sey, said that the team has been training since October and they are in full gear towards the tournament.

"We have been training five days a week from Monday to Friday and we are planning test matches with national teams like the U-20 and if possibly the U-17 team to know the team's strength before leaving for Uganda" coach Sey told Pointsports.

It will be recalled that in 2006, the Armed Forces Football team travelled all the way to Burkina Faso to take part in the West African Military Football Championship organised periodically by the West African Liaison Office (WALO). Although they made an impressive performance, they failed to bring home the coveted Amadou Toumani Toure's trophy by coming out fifth position.

In 2007, the WALO Tournament was hosted in The Gambia and the Armed Forces FC won the trophy against Guinea Conakry in a penalty shootout.

Meanwhile an advance team headed by Major Seckan is expected to leave Banjul Today Friday for Uganda to set the ground before the arrival of the team.