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Bakau Coach and co react to GFA decision

Feb 12, 2010, 2:52 PM | Article By: Lamin Drammeh

Barely 24 hours after receiving the news of a one-year ban imposed on the Bakau Zonal team, as well as the D2000 fine slam on three key members of zonal team, the Head Coach of Bakau team Abdoulie Bojang, together with three other members of his squad reacted angrily to the GFA's decision to ban the team from taking part in next year's Zonal Championship.

The Gambia Football Association it could be recalled has since set up a special task force committee to investigate the matter, as well as post-mortem on the behaviour of the team officials, players and supporters resulting in the abandonment of the second edition of Baby Muhammed Jammeh Perpetual Cup Competition since December 13th 2009, at the Serrekunda West Mini Stadium.

After months of thorough investigation, the task force committee finally submitted the reports to the GFA, who decided to come up with the decision to slam one year ban on the entire members of Bakau Zonal team and went further to fine the squad trio: Assan Jatta, Demba Sanyang and Lamin Jallow, alias Beck, a decision they fail to accept.

Abdoulie Bojang who was one time an integral part of Bakau's success expressed disappointment about the FA's decision to ban Bakau from taking part in the next Zonal Competition.

He told Poinsport that he was disappointed and shock after hearing the decision from the Gambia Football Association, and therefore calls on the GFA to reconsider their decision.

Lie who initially refused to accept the GFA's decision to change the fixtures from the Independence Stadium added "How can we be punished for the crime we did not commit."

He believed the change of venue has contributed to the incident, noting if it was played at the stadium, there would not be any problem, hence it is much more secured.

He went further to question the GFA's decision of awarding Serrekunda East the trophy, the dissolution of the organising committee, as well as denying Bakau their runners-up position, describing it as unfair.

Lamin Jallow who was given a fine of D2000 fell disappointed and surprise about the decision.

"I only reacted when Buba Jallow rushed to our goal post to claim to have taken away a juju. I was seriously hit by Samger's physiotherapist during that period who was also part of the coaching staff of Serrekunda East Zonal team, but despite that I thought it wise not to react," said the 15-year-old striker who was part of the former U-17 team that underwent a three-week training camp in the United Kingdom.

Pa Amadou Gai who also played a key role in the match congratulated Serrekunda East for being declared the winner. But he was however quick to admit that the decision is too heavy.

"Declaring East as the winner does not matter for me, but banning Bakau for one year as well as fining three players for D2000 is a heavy decision," the former senior national team player told our reporter in this interview yesterday.

Meanwhile, two other Bakau fans namely Abdoulie Njie, alias Pusty and Modou Joof, a brother to Lamin Jallow, expressed dissapointment at GFA;s decision, as well as the task force committee that was selected to investigate the zonal final chaos.

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