The first-ever memorial and most-talked about eight-team football tournament, to be staged by the country's biggest sports journalists body in honour and memory of departed colleague, Fatou Mbye, who passed away last year is set to kick-off today, at the Serrekunda East and West Mini-stadiums.
The two-week football tournament which is divided into two groups ranges from both male and female categories.
The participating teams are said to have commenced their preparatory programmes ahead of the big event, in a bid to fully participate in this worthy cause.
One team which is undergoing an intensive training programme at the Independence Stadium is the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Pointsport visited the team at their training centre at the main venue of the Independence Stadium and managed to speak to the squad trio Abdul Aziz Titao Mendy, the trainer of the team, the Director of Youth and Sports, Malang Jassey and Marcel Mendy, the Executive Secretary of the National Youth Council, who all remain positive of their side's possibility of lifting the title when the championship begin today.
"Any team that has to face the Ministry really needs to boggle up because we have a team full of ex-football stars who have got a wealth of experience to challenge for the championship title," says Midfielder Marcel Mendy, who has played for a host of top clubs ranging from the first and second division teams.
The trainers of the Ministry team Abdul Aziz Titao Mendy and Malang Jassey, who is described by team-mates as a formidable player and is highly tipped to play a key role for the Ministry side when they square up with another determined team in sports journalists are both positive of claiming the title when the great event gets underway.
Fixtures
Female
1. Fri 19/02/10
2. Fri 19/02/10 Abuko Vs Interior 3pm East
Male
1. Fri 19/02/10 GFCA Vs Ambassadors 5pm West
2. Fri 19/02/10 SJAG Vs Ministry 5pm East
Final
Female
Fri 26th /02/10 Winner 1 Vs Winner 2 3pm East
Male
Fri 26th /02/10 Winner 1 Vs Winner 2 5pm East