Hannover FC are through to the second round stage of the Serrekunda East Sports Development Organisation (SESDO) Nawetan qualifiers after beating Future Stars FC by a goal to nil in their first round meeting played at the Serrekunda East Mini Stadium on Sunday.
Seedy Jatta scored the only goal of the game for Hannover FC in the 4th minute to ensure his side a place in the second round of the qualifiers.
Speaking to Pointsports shortly after the game, Modou Lamin Jammeh, head coach of Hannover FC, said the team had been trying to regain promotion back to the nawetan proper after been relegated a couple of years ago, but expressed confidence that they would qualify to the nawetan proper this year.
His team is made up of young determined players this year who want to see the team back in the nawetan proper, he said, adding that for now they are not interested in playing beautiful football but securing a place in the nawetan proper.
If they qualify then they can play tactical football with a good formation, he said, calling on the fans to be patient and continue supporting the team while assuring them a nawetan place this season.
Lamin Jarju, head coach of Future Stars FC, said he was unsatisfied because they were yearning for victory to proceed to the next stage of the qualifiers.
Jarju said they did not deserve to lose because they played better and also created better chances in the game than their opponents. Their only woe was that they conceded a bad early goal which cost them the game.
They had competed in Wellingara and Sinchu over the years but this was their second year taking part in the Serrekunda East qualifiers, he said, adding that they would now rest till after the Ramadan to compete in other zones.
It was unfortunate they had to crash out of the qualifiers in their first game he said but thanked the fans of the team, saying: “We cannot pay the fans, they have always been there for the team, their expectations were high but let them never give up, we will make them happy one day – this has been so because, man proposes, God decides.”
Jarju also commended SESDO, saying the committee had always been hardworking, “which is why they are the best zone and we thank them”.