The 2011 Daimler Cup Tournament organised by Olympafrica Centre Serrekunda East continues to witness some brilliant exhibition of talents from Lower and Upper Basic School-going children at the Serrekunda East Mini-stadium, Pointsport can reveal.
On Saturday 21 May 2011, in the 8:30am kickoff, Bundung Lower Basic School drew 1-1 with Tallinding Proper Lower Basic School in a keenly contested encounter.
In the 9:30am kickoff of the same day, LatriKunda Upper Basic School (LK) lost to Bakau Upper Basic School by 2-1.
Bakoteh Proper Lower Basic School in the 10:30am encounter beat Tallinding Annex Lower Basic School by a goal to nil.
In the 11:30am clash of the same day, Greater Banjul Upper Basic School drew 1-1 with Charles Upper Basic School. Abuko Lower Basic School in the 16:30 pm encounter defeated St. Charles Lwanga Lower Basic School by 1-nil.
In the final game of the same day played at 17:30pm, Olympafrica Centre Serrekunda East drew 0-0 with Musa Bun Nusair Islamic School in a well-fought encounter.
Speaking to Musa P. Manneh, secretary general of Olympafrica Centre Serrekunda East, shortly after the final encounter of Saturday 21 May 2011, he began by thanking IOC, Olympafrica Foundation and the GNOC for initiating and sponsoring the project.
Mr Manneh stated that he was quite impressed by seeing young players playing good football even better than senior players.
He noted that if the government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in collaboration with the Gambia Football Association and the Gambia National Olympic Committee, can help nurture “this young boys from now against 7 years we will be having professional footballers in and around the world”.
Mr Manneh further stated that the young boys can represent The Gambia in the next 10 years in all categories if good and proper care is given to them.
He pointed out that "the only problem they may have is lack of motivation, finance and support, which may hinder their progress". "If you look at the tournament annually, it brings together so many school children from different backgrounds to show their talents and skills in football," he said.
He said, Olympafrica Centre Serrekunda East is appealing to the government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports to come up with an action plan to help "the young talented boys who maybe our future professionals".
He finally urged the public to come out and cheer up the young boys in the second round, quarterfinals, semifinals and the final of the tournament, assuring them that they would see the best football they have never seen before. Entrance to the venue of the matches, he concluded, is free of charge.
