Serrekunda East to begin nawetten qualifiers on Friday

The balloting, which was graced and witnessed by all 32 team representatives was held at the Semega Janneh Hall in Serrekunda East.

The games of the qualifiers which are scheduled for 3pm and 5pm respectively, will be played at the Buffer Zone field in Tallinding.

Modou Yusupha Cham, president of SESDO, said their committee was very well prepared and ready to stage its nawettan season started with the qualifiers.

“We have sent all the external letters to the Referees Association, Inspector General of Police for security and Red Cross,” he said.

Asked about the criteria used for the selection of teams to participate in this year’s qualifiers, he said they had about 50 clubs that applied to participate but they selected only 32 teams based on their blueprints.

“The criteria we looked at to select teams for the qualifiers are that a team must be organised, technical teams must be separated from the executive. Teams must have a proper letter-head and a logo and must also have responsible executive members like president and secretary general,” he revealed.     

Mr. Cham added that each team is required to play four games in a knockout format in order to qualify.

Babucarr Krubally alias B.B., a team representative for Payford FC, expressed delight at seeing grassroots football return to the Serrekunda East zone, adding that not playing football for two years in Serrekunda East was not helping.

Samba M. Jammeh, a team representative for Ron Tah Bi FC, also expressed mix-feelings for being among the new teams to participate in the SESDO qualifiers, adding that their main objective was to uplift sports in their area.