Blackpool FC will battle it out with Tigers FC in the Nawetan final of the Serrekunda West Sports Organisation (SWESO) to be played on Saturday 10 December 2011 at the Serrekunda West Mini-stadium.
This followed both teams’ victories over their opponents in their semi-final encounters played at the Serrekunda West Mini stadium.
Blackpool made it to the final of the Nawetan competition after beating ten-man Kanifing United 6-5 on post-match penalty after playing a goalless draw on regulation time at the
Kanifing United were reduced to ten men in the 24th minute of the game when goalkeeper Modou Mboge was sent off for handling the ball outside the eighteen-yard box.
Tigers FC advanced to the final following their hard fought 1-nil win over their neighbours’ Konge Bi FC on Tuesday at the
Abdou Ceesay scored the only goal of the game for his side in the 31st minute of the game from a brilliant finish after capitalizing on Mustapha Jasseh’s pass.
Speaking to reporters, Sait Ceesay, head coach of Konge Bi FC, said he felt bad they lost twice against their neighbors, adding: “You can see the rivalry on the fans during the period of the game.
He added that the game was not going their way in the first period of the game, noting that they settle late very late in the game which resulted to their defeat.
This is their first year in the Nawetan proper and that reaching the semi-final was a good achievement for them.
They will try to maintain their players to build a stronger team next season, he said, adding that they were proud of themselves reaching this level of the competition because there were bigger teams in the competition.
Basiru Sanneh, head coach of Tigers FC, said he was delighted with the victory over their neighbors. They have players with the same heart because this was the only team from Kotu, he says
They would prepare very well for the final, he added, thanking the fans of the team and urging them to come out in their large numbers to support the team in the final.
Haji Tunkara, head coach of Kanifing United, his team were able to contain their opponents for the whole period of the game despite the sending-off of their goalkeeper in the early minutes of the game.
“Penalties is luck and I say well done to my players,” he said, adding that he is proud of them while describing his team’s performance in this year’s Nawetan as “fantastic”.
He stated that in the past they were not able to reach this level but that this year they managed to reach the knockout final and fell out in the semi-final of the Nawetan.
“We are always 100 percent prepared for every game whether it is a final or any stage of a competition,” he remarked, adding that he has been working hand in hand with his technical staff.
Modou Badjie, head coach of Blackpool FC, said: “It is not always easy to play at this stage, adding that, they faced a very difficult side describing his opponent as one of the best team in the competition this season.
He stated that, he was very happy with the win because they have never reached this level before but that what he always tell his players is there are only three facts that can lead to victory in a game which are hard work, belief and to also belief that there is no other magic in this kind of games other than hard work that they have shown during the period of the competition.
He then thanked his players and any other person that contributed towards the team especially the media for helping Gambian sports to go forward.
He asked how prepared he would be for the final, he say he has already beaten the best team of the competition which is Kanifing United.
