(Tuesday 15th October 2019 Issue)
The
Gambia senior national team has qualified to the next stage of the African Cup
of Nations qualifiers which means the technical team led by coach Tom Saintfiet
has to work even harder to ensure Gambia’s qualifies to play in the African Cup
of Nations finals for the first time.
A
lot of resources are needed to prepare for the next stage where they will play
against Angola, DR Congo and Gabon. Those countries are situated in Central
Africa and are hard to travel to because of expensive tickets fares.
The
coach should always consult his technical staff before effecting any
substitution that could be costly to the team. Every time he makes
substitutions fans disagree with his decision. By now he should have known all
players and their abilities. Many a time he makes wrong substitutions. The
coach should also always put players in the right positions.
The
match between The Gambia and Djibouti was not impressive in the second half
following the substitution of one player. It is advised that the coach consults
his technical team before effecting substitutions that the general fan base
agrees with. The last substitution resulted in the visitors killing the tempo
of the game by dictating the pace, which should not be.
Coach
Saintfiet is too defensive minded which shouldn’t always be the case when we
are playing at home.
The
coaching staff should also have a dialogue with players to put away their
personal differences to ensure players are always willing to come and play for
The Gambia whenever they are called to represent the country for the interest
of the nation.
Players
playing week in, week out with their respective clubs should also be given
consideration over those not playing regularly in their clubs or without clubs
when it comes to selection because there are always more fit and competitive.
The
main problem of Gambian footballers is to score goals and the coach should work
on that area. The players in the 18-man squad should concentrate more and not
panic. The Gambia Football Federation
executive should also address the issue of playing games at 4pm without delay
by discussing with CAF competition committee members to move the game to 5pm as
before.
The
temperature is always very hot at 4pm with most fans needing to take lunch,
travel far distances while others have other health challenges. Even the
monetary loses for the GFF from ticket sales is a discomfort.
Traditionally,
the host country should always communicate the time for the game to CAF and
this should always be taken into consideration.
Our
footballers need to be encouraged financially and morally as well as have test
games often to gauge their performance.
Finally,
the Ministry of Youth and Sports should always be financially supportive to the
Gambia Football Federation.
Football
should be given its due consideration.
“Football
is like life - it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice,
dedication and respect for authority.”
Vince
Lombardi
