Pa Dembo eyes Nations Cup final

(Friday 3 September 2010 Issue)
Gambian goalkeeper Pa Dembo Touray who ply's his trade with the Swedish giants Djurgardens revealed time has come for the Gambia senior national team to qualify for the African Nations Cup finals in Gabon\Equatorial Guinea. Its now or else never, he said.

The Djurgardens captain, who continues to enjoy a successful long spell with his Swedish outfit, spoke optimistically about Gambia's possibility of booking their place in the continental showpiece, and believes the boys can deliver the desire result, as they intensity preparations ahead of Namibia clash at the Independence Stadium this Saturday.

"I can assure you that we are well-prepared and confident, because we have been together for a long time and a good number of experienced players in our disposal will serve as a huge advantage in the country's quest to end a poor run in the qualifying campaign," Touray told Pointsport after yesterday's training session.

"Is high time to qualify or else people like us will call it quits in order to give a chance to the youngsters, considering my age in international football."

"We have a lot of experience players and, hopefully, with the support of the Gambian people, we will qualify," declared the first choice Gambian goalkeeper who earned himself the Scorpions armband recently, following his return at the helm of affairs after being sidelined for sometime.

Touray who remains the most experienced player in the Gambian team is one of the twenty (20) foreign-based stars looking set to appear for the Gambia as they open their qualifying campaign in Banjul.

"It is now or never. We have a good chance, and I am very much positive that we can qualify," Touray told Pointsport.

The team under the tutelage of the Belgian tactician Paul Put who led the Scorpions to their third training sessions, under the watchful eyes of Sheriff Gomez, the Minister of Youth and Sports, is expected to announce his final 18-man squad any time soon.