Steve Biko will today meet Young Africans in another make or break encounter at the Independence Stadium in Bakau in the GFA 1st Division League, a match which will save them from or lead them to relegation, win or loss.
Exactly four days after celebrating what was widely regarded as a famous win over Wallidan in the GFA top-tier football league, Bakau giant killers Steve Biko will enter today’s clash with Young Africans knowing that any setback could cause a serious threat to their relegation survival having struggled to move away from the demotion zone with only four games remaining.
Regardless of their win over Wallidan, coach Abdoulie Bojang and his charges will be determined to take full advantage of today’s clash with the promoted Young Africans in their quest to end their long-term pursuit of a top-flight football next season.
Biko this evening will be trying to secure a win to earn two consecutive victories in the campaign to avoid any further slump.
Lie and his in-form Biko side could only manage to collect two in this season’s campaign the first of which was their clash with neighbours Bakau United a fortnight ago and the latest was against their bitter foes Wallidan, a win coach Bojang described as vital in their hunt to avoid what could be called a catastrophic demotion to the second division.
Biko and Wallidan continue to enjoy a bitter rivalry, and the controversial atmosphere that surrounded the Thursday’s tie at the Independence Stadium in Bakau was an evident to the long-standing hostility between the two sides.
Goals from substitute Saikou Sidibeh and inspirational young goalkeeper Musa Touray were all the Bakau giant killers needed to obtain an illustrious 2-nil win at the expense of Wallidan, whose recent drop in form has seen them suffer three consecutive defeats in the process.
Wallidan, who missed a series of scoring opportunities in that game, were reduced to ten men when star defender Lamin Gibba was sent off few minutes after the interval for a second bookable offence.
However Gibba’s dismissal depressed the record title holders’ hope of achieving any meaningful result. It did not take Biko too long to make their winning ambitions known to their opposition when substitute Saikou Sidibeh’s 73rd minute opener sent a teeming number of Biko supporters in jubilation.
The second goal was converted by goalkeeper Musa Touray from a penalty spot to extend Biko’s lead in the 79th minute thanks to a goalkeeping error by the Wallidan gloves man.
Biko’s vital win was attributed to the fine tactical changes made by coach Bojang, who introduced in the game three influential youngsters in the persons of Saikou Conteh, Saikou Sidibeh and Ousman Njie, with midfield maestro Habib Kunta spearheading most of Biko’s impressive attacking options.
Biko and Wallidan played a 1-1 draw in their opening game of the campaign at the Serrekunda East Mini-stadium few months ago in the midst of an apprehensive atmosphere.
Elsewhere, the battle for the relegation survival resumed between two other struggling teams - Interior and Bakau United. That game ended 2-nil in favour of coach Kebba Touray and his Bakau charges thanks to goals from striker Amadou Baldeh, who scored in each half to put Bakau United in a firm position so far.
