The Gambia women’s U-20 team last Tuesday started training in preparation for two international friendly matches at home against their Liberian equivalents for the 6th and 9th of August, 2019.
Speaking to www.gambiaff.org, Mr. Foday Bah the Head Coach said the team is in a screening process as they have 36 players which would be trimmed to 25 for the matches. “This is a team that we started building from the U-17. They’ve not been together for a long time but the last U-17 is the core of the team plus few other players that have been training with the women’s national elite team. So at least, we just need to work on their tactics and fitness but they’re already great players,” he assured.
Bah highlighted that women’s football in The Gambia is at its epic moment thanks to the commitment showed by the current leadership at Football House. “We have very skillful players, young and talented girls already in place. We have abundance of talents but what we need is consistency.”
Coach Bah said even though it was lacking in the past, there is now a clear transition path from our youth categories to the elite level, something that delights his heart. “The graduation of players from one category to another consistently was a challenge before, because the gap between the U-17 to the national team is huge. Now we have them in place, players can be in the U-12, U-15, U-17, U-20, and U-23 then to the national team. Now we can develop these players up to the elite level and that will make it easier for the national head coach to make a great selection and have a complete and competent team that can represent the country,” he explained.
Bah concluded by urging football lovers to support their players and expressed optimism that they will secure victory in the aforesaid matches.