National U-20 team tesumes final preparatory effort

Barely two weeks after booking their place in the final stage of the 17th Edition of African U-20 Orange qualifiers with an impressive 4-1 aggregate win over Sierra Leone in Freetown, the Gambia National U-20 team this morning resumed their final preparatory effort, at the Serrekunda East Mini-stadium.

The team under the tutelage of Lamin Sarr, who was influential in helping the U-20 team progress to the next stage where they are preparing to host Ivory Coast in the first leg of the final qualifiers on September 25th resumed training with a total of 25-man squad ahead of what promises to produce a mouth-watering clash in Banjul.

Sarr, who came under heavy criticisms after the team's dismal showing during the 2009 African U-20 qualifiers against Ghana, told this reporter yesterday that he was extremely delighted to see the boys through to the final round of the qualifiers against Ivory Coast, who eliminated Tanzania 2-1 on aggregate to set the Gambia tie.

"I was so much delighted to record an impressive victory over Sierra Leone which was more than enough to see us through and I hope to continue from where I stop with the team when the qualifiers takes center stage next month," Sarr who recently completed a high level coaching course in Hungary highlighted in an interview at the GFA headquarters in Kanifing.

Sarr further used the opportunity to explain to our reporter that the fitness level is compelling them to start early training so that the boys would be able to maintain their fitness level ahead of the Ivory Coast clash.

Sarr, however, remained optimistic of leading the team to their second African U-20 Championship, to be hosted by Libya next year. Sarr who attributed the team's success to determination and commitment, among other qualities, was however full of praises for the Belgian tactician, Paul Put whose outstanding support to the U-20 team was no secret.

The ambitious U-20 coach further used the platform to commend the players, the Gambian people, as well as his coaching staff Foday Bah and Abdoulie Bojang, for what he referred to as their outstanding contribution in making things happen.

"I would like to take this opportunity to urge the fans to continue encouraging the team, because they have a crucial role to play to ensure that we achieve the desired result against Ivory Coast and hopefully we can do it together," Sarr concluded.