I could recall in the late 60s and 70s football was a religion in The Gambia.
The level and standard of football at that time cannot be compared to today’s level despite all the money being paid to footballers and the sponsorship and all that goes with it.
One would want to ask why?
Footballers at that time had pride or (Jumm) and were determined to give their best at all levels without expectation or financial reward.
All that they expected was an honor to serve either their clubs which were mainly district base or regional base.
The football teams in those days were associated with or originated from small street clubs in little Bathurst, the capital city.
The clear example of Banjul teams is that the likes of Real De Banjul, Black Diamond, Freezing, Augustinians all originated from Lancaster Street, Banjul.
The key elements of community support from the grassroots made the teams stronger as they had a local support base as a foundation.
The good old days of football had more populace engagement with never ending discussions about the game on every street corner, vous and gatherings. The coffee bar at Kings Ways stores those days was the central meeting point of discussion from Monday to Saturday.
The ambiance and fun fairy associated with it will truly never return.
The 30th of November is a historic day in Gambia football as this year’s marks the 46 years since football history that coincided with a football championship final between two strong teams who were also big rivals .
Football history was made in The Gambia as it saw the first live broadcast over Radio Gambia of a football final between Real De Bathurst and White Phantoms Football Club.
This final was between the two football giants in those days from the capital city Banjul.
This happened when football was at its peak and at its best. The Commentary team was led by one of Gambia’s pioneer broadcasters Dr Seedy Jammeh, Don Diament, a British Expert who was on a technical assistance programme with Cable and Wireless.
My Brothers Sandigie Njie and Sylas Jones, both sports fans and stunt supporters of Real De Bathurst and White Phantoms Football Club respectively provided the technical football backup. In subsequent live broadcasts, Pap Saine of then Radio Syd joined the team of commentators.
Box Bar Stadium was the main venue of the finals, and it served as the only sports arena in those days.
This live broadcast was so important in the history of sports that gave birth to a weekly programme on Radio Gambia called Mid-Week world of sports which came on every Wednesday night at 8.30 pm anchored by the late Babaucar Gaye and Sandigie Njie.
This programme highlighted both local and international sports news. The match ended in favor of Real 4 and Phantoms 3 with Garnet Cooker as usual scoring the winning goal in the dying minutes of the game as he usually does .
The final came at a time when there was a breakaway of teams, and we had Augustinians, Adonis and other teams having their league matches at K.G 5 stadium and the others at Box Bar Stadium.
Real had to beat Foyaa to reach the finals.
The Lineup for White Phontoms- Nai Ceesay, Late Kabba Jallow, ( M.I ), Pa Ousman Janneh (Beks) , Lamin Secka ( Elli ), Saloum Njie Late, Late Modou Bah ( Lam ), Dodou Ndure , Totto Senghore, Late Libas Gaye, Musa Manga, Alh Choks Faal, Cherno Barra Touray ( Dennis Law ), Ebou Fye (Limba ), Alex Thomson ( Ice Cream) and Late Musa Joberteh .
The line up for Real de Banjul-Captain Late Sam Sibbi, Sam Forster, Saihou Sarr,Late Alhaji Cham (Goalkeeper reserve), Kebba Jatta (Diaz), Late Abdoulie Njie ( Pitty ) late Saihou Njie ( Baddeh ) and Mustapha Conteh, Sering Omar Fye, Late Ebou Joof, Muntaga Gillen, Mustapha Fye (Tysus), Late Nyanya Sallah, Garnet Coker, Late Alhassan Cham, Late Baba Mbow, Musa Njie (Beckenbaur ) Late Salieu Foon, Under the able Management of my good friend Mam Sait Njie (Hank) The first team manager of the club.
Real De Banjul, a team in which I am a founder member, a player and later became a manager that won the Guiness cup was conceived by secondary school students.
It became a team that revolutionized football in The Gambia. It brought into the standards and collective football techniques that other teams emulated thus raising the level that all football fans envied.
The team later expanded its wings to be a sports club with basketball, Athletics and Volleyball teams for both male and female and other sporting disciplines with prominent stars as its founder members.
To name a few, Ousman Sabally , Bai Jobe, Felix Ceesay, Felix Gomez, Dupeh Joiner, Late Buhari Njie, Tayib Sowe, Charbel Alhaj, among others.
The Female basketball team comprised Nyanya Jobe, Caroline and Effua Atkins, Mam Kumba Njie, Ramu Sarge Njie , Bassin Ceesay, Kumba Ndure among others.
The athletics team comprised Karlilou Bayo, Bamboa Fatty , Sering omar fye , Kebba Diaz among others.
Thanks to the technical advice and guidance of Teacher Cherno Touray, fondly called Dennis Law and a VSO sports teacher by the name Tony Tame.
The team was also fortunate also to receive advice and guidance from Dettmar Cramer, a former Bayen Coach who was on a FIFA assignment at the time in The Gambia.
My friend Mam Sait, the first manager of Real some years back, had the opportunity to meet Dettma in Norway when his team was playing with Saihou Sarr’s team Mjoldalen in Drammen, Norway and brought back the good memories of his visit to The Gambia.
Real enjoyed the support of the Banjul elite and won the hearts of Late Alh Babou Ceesay, ( Mr Humor) I call him The first President of Real, Late Sherif Mustapha Dibba, the former Vice President who served as President of the club, Late Musa Faal of Bata, Late Alh Ousainou Njie, Late John Sinyan, Modou Senghore Texaco, First Secretary General, Mbye Njie & Sons all served as officials and sponsors of the club .
A Lebanese businessman late Anese , Husieme of MFH Group was also prominent among the sponsors. We cannot forget to add the names of key players and officials of the team and among them are Late Alh Kebba Conteh, Late Alh Ebou Conteh, Late Alh Njie BP, Late Alh Kurbally, Medical & Health of Hopkinsin, Babaucar Cham, Clakson Street, Late Man Beran Joof, ECOWAS , Ousainou Jallow, CFAO, Alh Musa Coker, Late Mathar Sarr, Late Badou and Alh Dodou Sinyan, Alh Dawda Njie Jarga, Late Alh Ebou Conteh, Late President M.B Jarra or Uncle Jarra, President Late Alh M.O Njie, Alh Babou Fye, Treasurer, Late Alieu Kah, Late Momodou Gassama (Gassa ) who served as an important pillar to the club until his demise, Badou Njie (Witt) Late Samperr , Late Abdou Gaye, Late Pindo Drammeh, Oko Drammeh, The Man with The Trumpet, Ndamma ( Taxi Driver), Ebou Gaye, Mr Phillot, Of NAWEC, Sandigi Njie among others.
I cannot end without mentioning our father and spiritual leader Late Alh Saidy of Sanyang Village who played a big role in our existence.
May his soul and the rest of all those who played a part in the success of the team and are no longer with us rest in perfect peace.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank the present management of the club Bakary Jammeh, Willy Abraham, Pa Samba and the entire management of the team for the efforts and contributions they have made in bringing the team to the level it is today.
We are deeply honored for the recognition and support given to us as founder members of the team.
We appreciate you all. God continues to bless you all.
Thanks to Mam Sait Njie (Hank) and Sandigi Njie for their assistance in putting together this article.
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