A team of Gambian football veterans, SAALBI, in a friendly match on Saturday drew with their Senegalese counterpart, Association des Veterans des Parcelles Assainies (AVPA), at the Seaview football grounds in Bakau.
The Senegalese veterans' team was captained by former national team player, Rose Mendy, and in the first fifteen minutes of the game disturbed the Gambian team. As a result of their counter-attacks, they netted their opener in the 25th minute.
In the second half of the game, after reinforcing the team in the 29th minute through a pass from Modou Sowe, Matarr Sosseh was able to equalise for the Gambia, bringing the score to 1-1.
At the end of the match, as a sign of solidarity, the Senegalese team through the Prefet of Parcelles, EL- Oussseynou Deme, presented a trophy to the Gambian veterans.
Mr. Deme stated that the two teams have a good and cordial relationship, adding that in December last year they hosted the Gambian team, and that this visit was meant to strengthen the relationship between the two groups.
For his part, the president of AVPA, Ousmane Gassama, said the beauty of the relationship was not only to win, but to maintain the brotherhood between the two countries.
He added that now the two mayors that of Banjul and Parcelles, are also involved in the partnership between the two groups.
Ebou Ndure a member of the Gambian veterans in a brief interview with Pointsport said the rationale behind the partnership is to keep the dream of Senegambia alive, noting that they do not only want the relationship to stop with them, but also to go down to the youths. He also commended the Mayor of Banjul, Samba Faal for taking charge of the visitor's accommodation.
Alhaji Momodou Njie alias Biri-Biri thankedthe two sides for coming up this laudable initiative. "I am happy to see people whom I played with during my time as a national team player," he added.
The occasion was also graced by the governor of Central Bank of The Gambia, Bamba Saho.
