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Gambians Confident In U-17 Team

Mar 3, 2009, 5:16 AM | Article By: Lamin Darboe & Lamin Drammeh

Barely two weeks before the 2009 CAF U-17 kick-off in Algeria, Pointsports gauges the opinion of some football pundits about the U-17 championship.

As pointsports seeks the candid opinion of the general public, this reporter first speaks to Omar Jallow, a native of Bakau, who said, '

I am impressed with the level of preparations for the three weeks training scheduled for Egypt," which he said should aid them in the tournament proper.

He acknowledged that the team has a lot of quality players that can win the trophy and qualify for the world U-17 youth tournament to be hosted by Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Another speaker Amadou Jobe of Brikama New Town, said the Gambia U-17 team will certainly perform to expectations in Algeria come March 19.

He stated that The Gambia U-17 was in a difficult group but expressed confidence that the team will reach the semis.

Speaking to Pointsports, the assistant director of sports, Pa Suwareh Faye, who doubles as the head coach of Africell\ Sait Matty FC, described Gambian opponents in the forthcoming African U-17 youth championship in Algiers as formidable sides to watch, but remained confident that the U17 can make it to the second round of the tourney.

Coach Faye acknowledged the toughness of the group but was quick to add that Gambia will nevertheless advance to the world cup in Nigeria. The confident coach continued to attribute great respect to all our opponents in that group, adducing the fact that they represent very strong opposition due to their experience in the cadet championship. Coach Faye elucidated that the host country, Algeria, would have an edge by virtue of their home crowd advantage which will serve as an extra force. It would be recalled that The Gambia hosted and won the U-17 championship in 2005, after a narrow 1-0 win over Ghana in the final.

The darling U-17 has already departed the shores of this country for Egypt where they are to play five test matches before the tournament proper in Algiers slated 19th of March to April 3rd 2009.