Batabut Kantora-based Sanchaba Scorpions side were recently crowned champions of the Foni Batabut Kantora Sports Committee-organised nawettan trophy after a marathon 5-4 post-match penalty shootout win over the Gunners of Karanai village.
The exciting final ended in a goalless stalemate at regulation time.
Watched by hundreds of football enthusiasts from far and wide, the West Coast Region Football Association (WCR-FA) president, Abdou Karim Sey, and the Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Ismaila Sanyang, also graced the final with their attendance.
The tournament was sponsored by QCell, one of the country’s GSM operators.
Speaking after the game, the WCR-FA president, Abdou Karim Sey, said: “I am very much impressed today because I have been hearing the name of this sports committee and today I am very much impressed with the organization and all what has transpired here.”
Sey said he had seen talents that if nurtured can be future assets for the country, while reaffirming his association’s readiness to work with sports committees like that of Foni Batabut Kantora to bring everyone on board.
“I think we have to associate with them, and we have already started the journey and bridging the gap to work with them.”
Such tournaments, he told this reporter, can greatly help in promoting and developing talents across the region.
He commended QCell for coming on board to sponsor the tournament.
Also speaking after the game, Alhaji Ismaila Sanyang, Minister of Agriculture, was equally impressed with the level of organization of the final, saying it was a keenly-contested final.
He congratulated the winners and encouraged the losers to keep up the hard work.
As Minister of Agriculture, Sanyang said he is also looking forward to seeing young people actively and fully engaged in agriculture, when young people in the Greater Banjul would go to the villages to farm.
According to him, his ministry would give the needed support to all the youth to get farms vis-à-vis forming various football teams.
He encouraged the Batabut Kantora Sports Committee to keep up the momentum and not to compromise transparency but maintain an open way of doing things.
“They should ensure there is fairness and justice in whatever they are doing,” he said. “I also want to thank QCell for sponsoring the tournament.”
Ebrima Baldeh, Marketing Manager at QCell, said his company was very proud and delighted to partner with the Sports Committee, adding that QCell would continue to support the Batabut Kantora Sports Committee.
He thanked them for staging a successful and peaceful final and encouraged the players and fans to keep up the fair-play spirit.
Gibril Sanyang, head coach of Sanchaba Scorpions, was full of praises for his lads and thanked them for winning the trophy.
“Today is the happiest day in my life because this is the first time we are reaching a final,” he said. “The final was not easy but I was prepared both physically and mentally.”
Lamin Jarju, coach of the losing side the Gunners, was satisfied with the performance of his boy despite losing the final.
He said the team was well prepared for the final, while apologizing to the fans.
As winners, Sanchaba Scorpions went home with a trophy and cash prize of D10, 000; while the Gunners of Karanai received a consolation prize of D5, 000.
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