The 2009\10 Gambia Football Association's Division One League Championship, which kicked-off on Saturday 9th January at five different venues, namely the Independence Stadium, Serrekunda East and West Mini-stadiums, Manjai Football Field and Box-Bar-Mini-stadium in Brikama with some scintillating performances, as well as some surprise results is producing some wonderful performances among the 12 participating teams.
The Gambia Football Association Division One league returnees GPA got off to a winning start to another
Kissima Bojang netted Samger's only goal from a long range free-kick midway through the second period. But it had proven to be a consolation when Cherno Njie, who was very instrumental in his side's win stunned the Academy Boys with two superb goals, following a defensive error by goalkeeper Blais Lama in the 60th minute, and then went ahead to take his tally to two with another spectacular 65 minutes strike.
Ousman Juwara was sent-off after stamping on Hagi Tunkara in the 80th minute, which forced Coach Jane Joof and his Academy Boys to struggle with only 10-man team for the remainder of the match.
Brikama United were held to a hard fought 0-0 against Ebrima Manneh's Interior side that are also making another return to the county's top flight football, following their demotion to the Second Division year before last.
But one match that was expected to witness another exciting opener between Hawks and Bakau United was called-off when it was sadly reported that the Head Coach of the Banjul Club and the former national team goalkeeper Sang Ndong lost his brother, prior to the Saturday's clash.
Wallidan and Seaview's match, which failed to produce a winner ended in a one-all draw as part of the first match on Sunday, while the second place holders in last season's First Division League champions Steve Biko, better known as the Bakau giant killers started their campaign with an impressive 2-nil win against Real de Banjul that won the league in 2006 without the services of a good number of key players who were reported to have left the country recently, including Captain Assan Jatta who also left the country for Spain on Sunday afternoon.
Despite missing the services of several star players Biko managed to hold on to their spectacular two-nil advantage, thanks to goals from Babucarr Jatta and Fabakary Bojang who drilled home his side’s second of the day from a penalty spot to give the Bakau side’s their first victory Stadium on Sunday.
The Bakau giants that secured its most impressive league standings after finishing second place on 33 points are looking set to win its first-ever league title and the introduction of some youngsters, such as Keketu Manneh, Ousman Njie, among other young talents, could prove a decisive factor in their quest to win their first league title in the history of the club.
