Former Gambia National Team Player and Coach Peter Bonu Johnson has succumbed to the cold hands of death aged 56, this morning, 28th July, 2019, after losing his battle with a long illness.
The President of The Gambia Football Federation (GFF), Mr. Lamin Kaba Bajo, confirmed the sad news after he was informed by the late Johnson’s family. “It is with a heavy heart and regret that I announce the passing of former Gambia National Team Coach Peter Bonu Johnson,” Mr. Bajo said. “I have just been informed about the passing. He has contributed immensely to the growth and development of football in The Gambia and his death is an irreparable loss to our game and the country at large. I pray for Allah to have mercy on his soul.”
As a result of Mr. Johnson’s demise, the President has also called off an important function at Football House today. To mark the end of a two-day Executive Committee and staff retreat, the people concerned and some key stakeholders were to converge in the form of a get-together and a football match at the National Technical Training Centre (NTTC) aimed at helping in the bonding process and build more trust amongst the participants. But the President has called off the event until further notice.
Peter Bonu Johnson was born on 10th May 1963 in Banjul. He played for The Gambia National Team between 1983 and 1994. Between 2004 and 2008 and from 2012 to 2013, he worked as assistant coach of the Senior National Team. However, his biggest achievement as a manager came in 2007 when he guided The Gambia U-20 Team to third place at the African Youth Championship and a maiden appearance at the World Youth championship in Canada where they exited at the knockout stages.
In January 2012, he was appointed as the Head Coach of the Senior National Team but his stint was short lived after he left in May of that year. He returned as Head Coach in 2013 for another short stint and was appointed the CHAN Team manager in 2015 but left after three months following the team’s exit at the hands of Senegal.
