Gambia Kungfu combatants return home with pride

Gambian Kungfu combatants recently returned to Banjul on the back of an eye-catching performance as they won a bronze medal at the end of a week-long African Kungfu championship in Dakar, Senegal.

The Gambian team was among a host of other Kungfu demonstrators that converged in the West African nation for the third African Kung fu championship, that came to a successful end in Dakar last Wednesday.

Two Gambian Kungfu combatants in the persons of Saikou Faal and Essa Waggeh, Pointsport understands, were the only Gambian participants in the competition, and managed to edge out their respective opponents in the race to claim the bronze medal, following a keenly-contested Kungfu competition.

The Dakar event ran from 8 to 15 September 2011, and witnessed the presence of some of the world’s renowned Kung fu lovers. Among them were eight Chinese Kung fu experts who, according to our source, trained the Gambian team for three days ahead of the competition proper.

It would be recalled that a total of six Gambian Kung fu combatants left the shores of the country last week to take part in the event, but reports gathered by Pointsport have it that only four were able to participate due to the limited financial constraints that continue to hit Gambian sports.

Moussa Mamane, technical director of the Gambia Kungfu association who led the Gambian delegation to Dakar, disclosed to this reporter that the reason for reducing the number of participants to four was largely due to financial problems, which he further noted prompted them to make a personal contribution to ensure their participation in the championship.

Mamane used the platform to appeal to donors, philanthropist, companies and any interested parties to assist the Gambia Kung fu association in their bid to tackle the financial difficulties that continue to hamper the advancement of Kung fu over the years.

He described his association’s participation in such an international Kung fu championship as a great exposure to his students, and believes it will help them greatly in future international championships.

Pointsport has learnt that four Gambian Kung fu participants won international certificates as students.

Mamane, the trainer and the technical director of the Gambian team also earned himself a certificate as an international judge and referee. Part of his international assignments is to coordinate the training of West African Kung fu Federation in relation to the roles of the “Referees and Judges.”