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YMCA are double champs, Basketball Association gives out special prizes

Jul 2, 2013, 11:25 AM | Article By: Adama K Jallow

The Gambia Basketball Association at the weekend gave out prizes to winners of the National Basketball league at the final on Saturday at the Independence Stadium in Bakau which also saw YMCA emerge double winners in the League and Knockout championships.

Saints are also the female league champions while GAF won the women’s knockout.

For winning the National Basketball League Male, YMCA received the first trophy with a cash prize of D9,000.00.YMCA being winners of the Knockout trophy also collected a D5,000.00.

Wallidan, who came out second in the league championship and collected D7000.00 but fell back to third position in the knockout, earned another cash prize of D2,000.

D3000.00 went to Brikama for clinging on third position in the league championship.

A thousand dalasi was given to each of the rest of the teams (GAF, Lamin, Serrekunda West, Serrekunda East and Sport house).

Saints Basketball Club are under suspension. Serrekunda West who came out second in the knockout got D3,000 while Sport House emerged fourth on the knockout.

Saints basketball club went home with a trophy and a cash prize of D6,000.

In the Female league, GAF basketball club, who came out second, received D4,000 while third-placed holders Serrekunda West got D1,000.

In the women knockout championship winners GAF had the trophy and D5,000 and runners-up Saints were given D3,000.

Present at the occasion were the President of The Gambia National Olympic Committee, Alh Momodou Dibba, Mr Oreme Joiner, General Manager of Trust Bank Gambia Limited, Alh Badou Mbenga a pioneer of Gambia Basketball, Aja Aminata Sowe of Trust Bank, members of the GBA Executive, USA Embassy Staff, etc.

Hundreds of people witnessed the first finals of a basketball game in over a decade.

The GNOC donated the cash prizes for the league: D20,000 whilst the GBA funded the prize money for the knockout.

“The GBA wishes to thank the Government of The Gambia under the distinguished leadership of HIs Excellency Sheikh Professor Dr Alh Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh for providing an environment conducive to enable us have basketball again in this country.

“We would like to profusely thank the GNOC, Trust Bank Gambia Limited, Gamtel/Gamcel, SSHFC, Banjul City Council, Independence Stadium management and Serrekunda West Sports Committee,” said Abdoulie M.B. Jallow, Secretary General of the Gambia Basketball Association.

“The GBA would like to thank the referees, journalists and the spectators without whom the wonderful games would not have had a successful comeback.”

The next season is expected to start in November.