Could it be that a team can become invincible in the entirety of the domestic Gambian top flight season for the first time. Well, that’s exactly what a team, formed just nine years ago, is attempting to do as Fortune Petroleum looks to be running away with their first ever Gambian title.
Coming into their week 16 game against Banjul United under the floodlights on Saturday night, Jane Joof’s charges had won 10 times, drawn six and yet to taste defeat. Incredibly, they’ve also scored 16 goals, an average of nearly 1.1 goals per match, even with a strike force led by former Scorpion Momodou ‘Zico’ Ceesay. Hardly a championship form. Sure, you would think. But unbelievably, they conceded just twice all season and at the end of match day 16, they racked up their 14th clean sheet of the season.
This isn’t a side set-up to be involved in high scoring affairs, but they compensate for their impotency in front of goal with a defensive solidity never seen before in Gambian football. Banjul United were superior in all departments last night. They dominated, entertained with slick passing, and created better chances. They did everything right, except one; scoring. They weren’t ruthless in front of goal. The thousands that thronged the Independence Stadium were kept on their toes for much part of the match, especially in the second stanza. It was a moment many believe that Fortune’s invincible run was finally coming to an end.
But to win a national championship, where each team has to play the other twice, it doesn’t always take swashbuckling display of attacking strength or a defensive dependability. Sometimes, you need luck and topsy-turvy performances to grind out results. This was the perfect example to describe Fortune’s last night performance as they would thank their stars for not going home with a heavy defeat. Any Banjul United attack, and they had numerous, seemed like it was destined for the back of the net but they were either frustrated by the inspired Yankuba Sabally in goal or the frame of the goal post. At times, maybe, the goal seemed wider for them as they were guilty of several gilt-edged chances.
In the end, the referee blew the whistle for a goalless stalemate. But despite the barren score, surely, this match would go down as one of the games of the season. Crucially, for the leaders, though, they maintained their nine-point lead at the top of the 14-team table as second place Brikama United could only drew 1-1 with The Gambia Ports Authority in the early kick-off. Kebba Manneh’s goal from a free kick for Ports was cancelled out by Brikama substitute Ebrima Badjie’s half volley. Brikama is now on 27 points, while Ports dropped to seventh with 22 points.
Elsewhere on Friday, Wallidan leapfrogged Hawks on the table with a vital 2-1 win, while Waa Banjul jumped to third with a 1-0 defeat of Gamtel. Wallidan, securing their second straight win on the bounce, the first time they achieved that all season, is up to eight on 17 points, while Hawks is a point below in 10th. Waa Banjul has 24 points and Gamtel languishing just a point above the relegation zone in 12th.
The final game of the week will see The Gambia Armed Forces in fifth entertain basement side Tallinding United in a 7pm kick-off today. A win will see Tallinding catch Hawks on the table.
