The GCAA were defeated 2-0 at their first opening game by the Eline Fisheries Jaal FC of Juwal, played at the Ma Wad Stadium in St. Louis.
Jarju made these remarks in an interview, and said despite the defeat, he was impressed with the GCAA’s performance, adding that the team had to prepare within a short period when they did not expect to be at the championship.
He said the absence of the Gambia Armed Forces team in the championship brought relief to the Senegalese participants.
This was the first time GCAA participated in the sub-regional football championship.
According to Jarju, it was last Tuesday they realized that the army could not make it, prompting them to move to plan-B, and approached the GCAA as the runners-up.
Despite the defeat, he said the team fought for the whole 90 minutes and had chances to win the game but failed, considering the constraints they had.
“If they have had the time, as in the case of the army, they would have gone very far,” he said.
Jarju recalled that it was last year when the army was supposed to be in Kaolak, but this was not possible because it coincided with the border closer by the authorities. Because of the absence of the army, The Gambia could not compete in the other sporting disciplines this year, he added.
