GFF President Lamin Kaba Bajo has received rousing applause following his tribute eulogized on the late Alh Momodou Njie (Birii Biri) describing the former CF Seville legend as a patriotic citizen and philanthropist.
Mr Bajo delivered the tribute before multitude of Gambians from all walks of life bidding farewell to Gambia’s “All Time Best Footballer” at a National funeral held in Banjul on Wednesday 22nd July 2020 presided over His Excellency President Adama Barrow who later conferred “The Grand Commander Of The Order Of The Republic Of The Gambia” (GCRG) which is the highest order awarded to the late football icon and national hero.
Full Text Of Mr Lamin Kaba Bajo’s Eulogy on Biri Njie
We are gathered here this afternoon to bid farewell and pay tribute to Alhaji Momodou Njie -Biri Biri, a man truly deserving of a national legend.
At the outset, may I on behalf of The Gambia football fraternity, convey my deepest condolences to the family of the departed hero, his friends, former colleagues, admirers and the entire country.
Biri Biri was a man amongst men. He was an accomplished footballer, whose devastating pace, trickery and ferocious shots were a joy to watch at both National Team and club levels throughout his industrious career. He was unarguably the Gambia’s Greatest Footballer of all time and has represented our dear nation with sacrifice and distinction. He gave up everything to represent this country. Biri feigned injuries, took deliberate red cards and used his own resources only to enable him join the national team for national duty. One occasion which stood out in defining his unqualified love for the Gambia was when he abandoned his family at the Banjul airport upon arrival for vacation and flew out with the national team on a training camp in the sub-region with the only pair of clothes he was wearing.
In the course of his admirable career, Biri Biri scaled the height of stardom on the pitch and earned the name African Pele for being the only person of his generation that came closest to possessing similar qualities like the Brazilian icon. Playing with four different generations of our National Team, he put The Gambia on the world map. And yet despite his success, he remained modest and kept his feet firmly on the ground of this city, right here in this community, Banjul, where he was born, and where he raised his family. Thanks to him, this country can hold its head high up there for having produced such a footballer of international standing, this great leader and a man of strong and abiding faith.
Though our personal interactions go way beyond two decades, but appointing him as both a GFF Goodwill Ambassador and Technical Adviser got us much closer than ever before. He served his roles in these two capacities with diligence, honesty, sincerity and frankness. He would never hesitate to speak his mind regardless of whom it concerns or where, yet still he was very polite, friendly and down to earth. He was indeed everybody’s Biri Biri. These rare qualities of his, made me to love and respect him more and more.
Witnessing Biri Biri giving a motivational speech to national team players on the eve of an international match would inject the ambition and feeling of giving your last breath for your country in the match. He was indeed a great INSPIRATION for any patriot.
Based on the foregoing, we at the GFF in recognition of his decades of contribution to football and national development awarded him with the President’s Award as the Most Outstanding Player of the Time during the Maiden Edition of the GFF Awards and Recognition Night last January. Though it was a joyous moment for all, alas, he would not be with us when the BIRI BIRI Mini Stadium currently under construction at the GFF National Technical Training Center in Old Yundum will be inaugurated. Nonetheless, we accept the decision of the Almighty Allah in this regard.
Death is inevitable. Indeed, a national icon lies in front of us today in this unique national Arena. Our grandfather, father, uncle, and brother has left for Eternity. But the mark he has left not only on Gambian football, but the world at large, will continue to be felt forever.
Fellow Gambians, Biri not only hoisted our National colours with passion, he represented clubs in Sierra Leone, Denmark and Spain with similar distinction, but he will mostly be remembered for his exploits with Seville in Spain, a club he represented for five years. Today Seville is one of the strongest teams in Europe having won five European Cups thanks to the solid foundations laid by Biri and his teammates. He left a legacy in the hearts of Seville fans which will never be forgotten, as both a legend and an idol. Not only did he receive the Gold Insignia of the Club in front of a packed Ramon Sánchez-Pizjuan Stadium in 2017, he also has a stand named after him called Biris Norte.
Similarly, at the home front, his contribution to the success of the several teams he played for since his teenager days to his retirement cannot be measured. The most recent being the Mighty Wallidan FC, which is one of the most successful football clubs the country has ever produced. Indeed, Wallidan was Biri Biri and Biri Biri was Wallidan.
To conclude, Biri’s life is a clear indication that football has the power and potential to stir people to action and give them a sense of purpose. It means through football, we can all achieve remarkable success as individuals and as a country. However, we must first understand that no success comes overnight. Thus, we should devote ourselves wholeheartedly to reaching our full potentials. Talent alone without discipline, determination, dedication and commitment isn’t enough. Hence the need for the young ones to learn from his gifted character is even more relevant today than ever.
There is an old adage that immortals do not die. They live in us forever. His legacy will forever remain in our hearts and minds.
As we say adieu to you, Uncle Alhaji Momodou Njie, Biri Biri, I pray that as a devout Muslim, philanthropist, and a patriotic citizen who devoted your entire life to the service of your motherland and her people, the Almighty Allah grant you permanent abode in the highest place in Heaven – Janaatul Firdaus. AMEEN
