More accolades are pouring in for Gambian Referees at international scene. The latest been League Div Two Referee Mustapha M Ndow who recently returned from Freetown, Sierra Leone after a successful football tournament for persons with deaf disabilities.
Ndow 26 was invited by the West Africa Deaf Association as one of the few selected Match Referees across the region for a tournament regularly organized for the Deaf. This year’s edition was held at the Siaka Stevens Stadium in Freetown from the 28th September to 5th October, 2019 where the Gambia also took part in.
The young and promising Gambian Referee officiated four matches at the tourney. He opened his duties with a match between Mali and Liberia before taking on Nigeria and hosts Sierra Leone. Mustapha was further preferred to take charge of proceedings between Mali and Senegal at the Semi Final stage that ended 4-2 on penalties after a goal less full time scoreline. He became the candidate for the final between Nigeria and Mali which the latter won one nil to be awarded as Winners of the tournament.
In light of Mustapha’s sterling performances at the tournament, he was nominated BEST REFEREE by the Western Area Football Referees Association. According to WAFRA , the young Gambian was exemplary in both physical fitness and technical know how and ” was therefore chosen to officiate the final match between Mali and Nigeria”.
Mustapha started his career in 2014 while still going to School. He tested the whistle at the Gunjur Nawettan and due to his giant strides, became promoted to 3rd Div matches. His performances grew bigger and impressive and in the following year was promoted to GFF League Div Two where he currently officiate matches.” My aim is to rise to the highest level in FIFA”, he told www.gambiaff.org
He is the latest following the footsteps of Omar Sallah and Esaha Sowe who also recently returned from the WAFU Cup of Nations Finals in Thies Senegal where Sallah was also nominated for the final match between hosts Senegal and Ghana.