After two international outings, The Gambia Cricket team finally arrived in Banjul on Monday. The team took part in the North/West Africa Cricket Championship hosted and won by Nigeria. The tournament took place from the 1st to the 12th of April 2008 in Nigeria.
The five team cricket tournament featured Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Gambia and Mali.
Being the only associate member to the International Cricket Council from West Africa, Nigeria retained the trophy after winning the first championship in Banjul. They beat Sierra Leone in the final.
After playing four matches and winning one, The Gambia came fourth in the tournament.
The National Cricket team then later proceeded to South Africa to take part in the ICC World Cricket Division 3 league from the 13th to 18th of April. The tournament featured eight teams.
According to Johnny Gomez, Vice President of the Gambia Cricket Association, the National Cricket team's performance while in South was not encouraging as they lost all of their matches.
He said the final was played between Ghana and Swaziland and was won by Ghana.
Both teams will now go to Zambia for the second stage of the tournament, where they will play with the Associates of the International Cricket Council in August.
In making the trip a success, Johnny Gomez commended the Asian Community in The Gambia through the Consular for India in The Gambia Mr. Ram Mohan and Amrait Kurien who gave financial support, track suits, T-shirts and caps to the team.
" I am also thanking the Department of State for Youths and Sports, the National Sports Council and Mr. Kwanla Elliott for their contribution in making the trip a success," he added.
