Scorpions are back in Banjul

The Gambia Senior National team yesterday at around 5.00pm returned to Banjul via SN Brussels at the back of an unconvincing and disappointing 5-1 defeat to World Cup bound Mexico in the international friendly game, played in Beryruth, Germany on Sunday evening.

The Gambian team under the tutelage of the Belgian tactician Paul Put, who blamed the Scorpions poor show in Germany to the absence of some key figures, such as Finish-based midfielder Dawda Bah, the MLS trio Sainey Nyassi, Sanna Nyassi, Abdoulie Mansally, among other notable absentees, as well as the lack of enough preparation prior to the friendly went into the Mexico encounter with the aim of collecting the desired results. 

But their efforts proved futile after they conceded an embarrassing 5-1 lost at the hands of the Mexican side who flee to South African ahead of the world's most prestigious tournament, the FIFA World Cup, which kicks-off in South Africa from 11th June-11th July 2010 for the first time on African soil.

Manchester United new recruit Hernandez and Baustista each scored a brace before Medina extended Mexico lead with a fine finish to wrap-up a 5-1 score line at the expense of unprepared Gambian team who could only managed a consolation, thanks to a fine strike from influential midfielder Ebrima Sohna mid-way through the second period.

The defeat has anger some football fans, who attributed the team's dismal performance to the lack of enough preparation compared to their Sunday's opponents who were involved in seven competitive and high-profile test games, including their 3-0 demolition against England prior to the encounter.

But, according to Terema Dahaba, the Administrator of the Gambia Senior National team who was also part of the delegation to Germany, The Gambia's standard in football cannot be in any way compared to that of Mexico, considering the level of the two nations, given the fact that Mexico are a great footballing nation and more importantly, they have been preparing their team for quite a long time with some world class stars.

Dahaba was however quick to admit that, the result of the test game will not affect the team's preparation ahead of the African nations qualifiers, adding that it can also serve as a moral booster exposure, as well as helping the coach build a formidable national team for the continental competitions.

"People should also put into consideration that Mexico is a great footballing nation, compared to The Gambia with enough preparation unlike the Scorpions who are trying to build a team." This test game Dahaba went on will also go a very long way in trying to present the coach with the unique opportunity to build a strong team before the start of the qualifiers set to begin in early September.