Franky Van De Velde appointed Real de Banjul coach

Real de Banjul Football Club is delighted to announce that Belgian Franky Van De Velde has been named as permanent first and youth team Coach of the Club on a two-year deal.

The 53-year-old, who was assistant coach of the club in the 2010/2011 league season, will take over from Baboucarr Coker, who was in charge of the team in the second half of the 2012/2013 season after the resignation of Alhagie Sarr.

After a meeting with Club President William Abraham, 1st Vice President Pa Yusufa Samba and 2nd Vice President Bakary Jammeh, Franky Van De Velde signed his contract yesterday at the Oasis Apartment Complex in Kololi.

Van De Velde subsequently held a short conversation with the President of Real de Banjul and was later presented his two-year contract which he signed.

Franky will take charge of the Real de Banjul First and Youth Teams till 2015 and will be assisted by Coker.

Franky, who is expected to bring in a lot of European experience to the club, was very much pleased to be appointed as Head Coach of the club.

“I’m delighted to be the new Real de Banjul first team coach. I’m really looking forward to the season ahead and it is also very exciting to see the boys back. I hope to bring in my experience and I look forward to working with the players we have in the club,” Franky told www.realdebanjul.gm.

He added: “I had the opportunity to work with the First Team [when I was assistant coach in 2010/2011] and Youth Team [as Head Coach since 2011]. I am looking forward to working with these great talents we have and hopefully, I shall develop them further.”

Franky, who is a retired military 1st Chief Aviation and holds a UEFA B Licence, was a former football player who played for Sporting Merelbeke, SK Gijzenzele, FC Perk, SK Houtem and KFC Merelbeke.

He started his coaching career in the lower league in Belgium where he coached youth players.

Franky has also coached in Sint-Niklaas, KSK Lokeren, KAA Gent and SK Lochristi.

The Gent-born has also had the pleasure to work with names like Johan Boskamp, Piet Demol, Rudi Verkempinck, Danny Dhondt, Charly Musonda, Kevin De Bruyne, Emmerik Davriese, Stanly Opoki, Niels Depauw and Albert Martens.