SJAG lines up Seaview Friendly in Memorial of late colleague

The Sports Journalists Association of The Gambia (SJAG) has set aside today (24 October 2011) for a proposed friendly match against Seaview FC of Sukutu.

The friendly game is intended to raise money for the family of the late Fatou B.K. Mbye, former sports journalist and a youth activist who passed away two years ago after a long illness. She is gone but her legacy in sports development is here to stay forever.

It is for this reason that members of the SJAG are organising a friendly match to honour Fatou’s outstanding achievement in the development and promotion of sport in all aspects in the country during her sojourn with us.

The friendly match is expected to be jointly organised by the SJAG and Sukuta Youth and Sports Organisation, the native town of the departed colleague, who are also tipped to be carrying the largest number of fan based within the coastal settlement.

“The late Fatou Mbye being a former Sukutarian, it is prudent that the youths of the region take part in remembering her for her active role in the development of sport in Sukuta.

The intended test match will also serve as a fund-raising avenue in which the SJAG shall benefit from the proceeds of the gate takings.

The late Fatou Mbye was not only a devoted Muslim and a colleague in the media; she was equally a wonderful individual with an outstanding character who could turn difficult circumstances into very comfortable situations, her father said of the late girl, whose death left everyone including her colleagues in the media shocked, when the sad news was announced on October 31, 2009, after a brief illness.

She was an important member of the family and, more importantly, she was very easy to deal with due to her wonderful listening skills, as well as her fantastic approach towards people.

The late Fatou Mbye was born in Sukuta Nema in 1982 and started her school career in her home town school, from 1989 to 1995, before proceeding to Latrikunda Upper Basic School where she spent three successful years.

“During her stay in the school, Fatou was an outstanding student with impressive leadership qualities. The late Fatou has always been respectful, but also demanded a lot of respect,” Bakary Mbye, father to the deceased, told this reporter during the funeral ceremony of his late daughter whom he also described as her dearest person in the entire family.

She was honoured with two leadership roles when her classmates appointed her as their class prefect.

Fatou was also appointed as a councillor by her colleagues, as a result of the cordial relationship that existed between her and her schoolmates.

Fatou in 1998 proceeded to Nusrat Senior Secondary School, where she also captured the hearts of many people as a result of her wonderful reading skills, among other qualities.

During her time in Nusrat, she also earned the admiration of a good number of her colleagues, and in the process was appointed the deputy head-girl of the school and was a key member of Nusrat board, a peer health educator, among other important roles she spearheaded.

Fatou of all people, according to her father, Bakary Mbye, repeatedly expressed her desire to become a great sports enthusiast since she was a little girl, adding that it was not a surprise for him to see her excel in sport.

“She fell in love with journalism since her schooldays, and I remember her telling me one day that I would like to work either with the television or the radio, and there was no other option than to give her the green-light to carry on,” added Mr Mbye.

She began working in the media with Radio 1FM in 2000, when she was still going to school.

She was later offered a job at City Limits radio station a year after completing high school.

Fatou’s wonderful contribution in sport earned her a move to the Department of Youth and Sports, where she was appointed the Youth Coordinator for a good number of years, and was a key member of her department’s success in the 2008 NAYCONF held in Farafenni.

She spent some time with West Coast radio as a sports presenter on voluntary basis, where she again earned the admiration of a good number of listeners, as a result of her wonderful reading skills and presentation.

The ambitious youth was also an active member of the Gambia Football Coaches Association, as well as the Youth Ambassadors of Peace.

She was behind the successes registered by Jam City female football club, where she was appointed to take charge of the team, as her wonderful and tireless efforts helped Jam City to gain promotion to the Second Division during her stay with the Jambanjelly outfit.

Her demise was described by many as a great loss to Gambian sport and youth matters.