Russia FC
beat Future Stars by a lone goal in the league final of Kotu Quarry Youth and
Sports Development and Association to be crowned champions of the third edition
of the late Yaboi Saine Memorial Noran tournament.
Baboucarr Jallow of Russia FC scored the only goal in the final in the 14th minute of the game to give his side more courage in the game.
Russia FC the winner of the tournament went home with a cash prize of D7,000 and a giant trophy, whilst Future Stars the runners-up went home with D4,000.
Balantin FC, who also took part in the tournament, were awarded as the most disciplined team of the tournament; Musa Tamba of Davida FC emerged as the most outstanding player and Samba Njie as the leading goal scorer of the tournament.
Speaking to this reporter shortly after the game, Essa Sidibeh, head coach of Russia FC, expressed delight, saying he prepared perfectly and achieved the expectations of his club’ supporters.
He said his team worked hard and achieved their goal. According to him, to lose would have been a surprise, because they prepared well and performed better than their opponents.
“I could have scored a second goal in the second half; which was the reason I made many changes and substitution. Because that did not work, I decided to defend the goal,” he said. “I will approach the knockout final the same as the league final and I will win it.”
Baboucarr Jarjue, head coach of Future Stars, said it was not a bad game for his side; it was just hard luck for them as “we could not capitalise on our chances”.
He described his opponents as a big team with experience and are more physical than them. “I advised my boys not to allow them to hold the ball, and for us we should hold the ball and knock it around because they are more powerful than us physically,” he narrated.
He said the substitutes he fielded in created chances but did not capitalise on them. He concluded by saying that he wanted his team to be like Tigers FC.
Timothy Colley, acting-chairman of Kotu Quarry Youth and Sports Development Association, said he was motivated and inspired by elders and youths in the Kotu Quarry community to establish the association.
“We have a very big land and already have an existing field we want to develop to get the youths in action, play football, get them all together, get a little thing out of it and move further into other projects; that is my aim,” Colley said, while appealing for more support.
“We are facing financial constraints, because anything that is around here comes from us, and the small money that we generate here is what we use to make this local fence,” he said, adding that one Pa Matarr Sosseh sponsored the tournament.
“The small money that we get from the tournament is what we are putting into the field to develop it as we are financially down and cannot do it all alone,” he calls on companies, the Government and individuals to assist them to develop the field to a mini stadium.
Acting-chairman Colley also said the knockout final is scheduled to take place on 30 March this year, between Russia FC and A-Z FC.
