The Gambia Civil Aviation Authority GCAA will airlift a delegation of 28 to Sierra Leone including the darling U17 team as part of the second leg encounter of the qualifiers of the 8th African U-17 Championship slated for Algeria in 2009.
The Gambia U-17 team has a big advantage over their opponents following their 4-1 winning performance in Banjul at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.
The team will be leaving Banjul on Friday to go to Sierra Leone and will play their hosts on Saturday to defend their 4-1 win to advance to the final stage of the final qualifiers.
Speaking to Pointsports, the President of The Gambia Football Association, Mr. Seedy MB Kinteh, said, "the boys will be leaving on Friday 12th September 2008, and will be airlifted by The Gambia Civil Aviation Authority GCAA. They will be lifting a 28 man delegation including the players." According to Mr. Kinteh, " the Government alone can't do it so we need the support of the private sector too, we are very happy with Africell and GCAA for supporting the game of football in The Gambia and we thank the management of GCAA for giving us the support to lift the 28 man delegation for the U17 return leg in Sierra Leone. We calling all the private sector to emulate GCCA and Africell to help promote the Game of football in The Gambia."
"The private sector and those willing to assist our national teams should do it when it is needed most. They should not wait for the team to qualify before coming to give their assistance," he said.
He added, "the team will be going to camp today at the Seaview Garden Hotel with 18 players."
It will be recalled that Sierra Leone lost to The Gambia in the first leg in Banjul by 4-1 and need to win 3-0 to advance to the next stage.
The Head Coach of The Gambia U17 team, Tarik Siagy, expressed optimism that his team will collect the maximum points in Freetown. "We are well prepared for the game, the team is intact and the players are well focused," he stated.
List of Players in Camp
1. Musa Camara
2. Omar Colley
3. Abdou Njie
4. Saihou Gassama
5. Baboucarr Jammeh
6. Pateh Nyang
7. Matarr Jobe
8. Lamin Samateh
9. Dawda Ceesay
10. Ebrima Bojang
11. Alasanna Camara
12. BABA Dumbuya
13. Babu Sama
14. Jatta Baldeh
15. Cherno Njie
16. Papa Saliff Badjie
17. Mbemba Fansu Simaka
18. Findi Buba Jammeh