Gambia, Conakry U-17 Friendly This Weekend

As part of efforts to strengthen and build a formidable side for 2009 African U-17 tournament in Algeria, the National U-17team will this weekend engage in an international friendly with the Guinea Conakry U-17 at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

The match is part of preparatory efforts to ensure a successful campaign for both teams participation in the 8th African U-17 Championship slated for March.

Seedy MB Kinteh, President of The Gambia Football Association speaking to Pointsports, yesterday pointed out that the Guinea U-17 side is expected in Banjul Thursday evening and will play the Darling U-17 on Saturday 31st January 2009 at 4.30pm and return Sunday.

"We have been trying to arrange this game for quite a long time but due to lack of resources on the Guinean side, it could not materialize. But with assistance from their government, the plan has now materialized," he explained.

He said the match will benefit both teams in their preparatory stages ahead of the championship.

The Gambia U-17 team were the 2005 African Champions of the CAF U-17 tournament hosted in Banjul. They put up an impressive performance at the World Championship the same year in Peru.

However, their reign as African champions was short lived when they failed to qualify for the 7th edition in Togo in 2007. The team could not proceed in the first round stages after been humiliated by Senegal at home and away.

Being the only national team that is participating at international level this year, football pundits are nurturing high hopes for an outstanding performance by the team in the Algeria tournament.

The tickets for the game are pinned at D300, D50 and D25 for VIP, Covered and Uncovered Pavilions respectively.