Watched by thousands of spectators these days, interest in the domestic Gambian top flight league is at an all-time high and while top clubs continue to flatter to deceive, minnows like Fortune are taking great advantage of the crazy fanfare.
The Petroleum Boys won two matches on the bounce under the floodlights at the Independence Stadium to open up a seven-point advantage at the top of the 14-team division as the first round came to an end yesterday. Jane Joof’s side built on from their 1-0 defeat of Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) the other week with a similar scoreline defeat of nearest challengers Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) on Friday.
The Farato-based club is not known for their potency in front of goal but their failure to be ruthless in the final third of the pitch is compensated for their solidity at the back. They may have scored 14 goals so far this season but also conceded a mere two and kept 11 clean sheets in total, including the last seven on the trot, to remain the only unbeaten side in the division.
Sitting behind them in second is their latest victims, the Khahi Boys, on 22 points. GAF may have scored the highest number of goals with 20 but could live to rue their defensive frailties having conceded a whooping 13, an average of one goal per game, hardly an impressive defensive record for a championship chasing team.
Brikama United is sitting behind them in third, with a further two points separating the two. The Sateba Boys are levelled on points with Waa Banjul who defeated GPA 1-0 with a last-minute winner scored by Ebou Camara on Saturday. Another of the three sides on 20 points at the halfway stage is Real de Banjul as their legend Bai Malleh Wadda made his comeback to the bench in a goalless stalemate with Banjul United.
Perhaps the biggest advertisement for the domestic game so far was reserved for the final match of the round as Elite United and B.K. Milan shared the spoils in a dramatic four-goal thriller. Inspired by Gambia U-20 striker Lamarana Jallow, Elite took a 2-0 lead with a quickfire double but the introduction of midfielder Wally Fofana at halftime changed the context of the game. Buba Jammeh may be the hero of the match with a brace but Fofana’s impact is by no means a small feat as he provided the assist for the equaliser.
Both Elite and GPA are levelled on 18 points in sixth with Hawks a further two points behind in eight and Gamtel has 14 points while Mrimoo is on 13. B.K. Milan, Wallidan and Banjul United all have 12 points with basement side Tallinding United a further three points behind.
The second round will get underway on Thursday with leaders Fortune back under the floodlights against Marimoo in the 8:30pm kickoff while the late match sees GPA and Wallidan squaring off at 10:30pm. On Friday, Brikama United faces off with B.K. Milan while Hawks takes on GPA on the same day.