Gambian journalists are the latest to give their thoughts on the Scorpions chances of securing a maiden appearance at the 2021 African Cup of Nations finals.
Speaking in an interview with www.gambiaff.org, the secretary general of the Sports Journalists Association of The Gambia (SJAG), Mr. Alieu Ceesay tasked his colleagues to play their roles positively in promoting the growth and development of football in the country. He added that the media has a critical role to play if we are to qualify for the next AFCON.
“It’s good we criticize them constructively when certain decisions aren’t good for the team but we as journalists shouldn’t allow our emotions shadow our work. We should stay focused and not to be carried away by friends who could be players and not called in the team. The country is bigger than anyone, so we should always work together in solidarity to achieve our common goal,” he lamented.
He also urged the Government of The Gambia to give the team the maximum support to ensure that Tom Saintfiet’s charges secure a place in the group stages and eventually Cameroon 2021. “This is the perfect time for The Gambia to qualify for its maiden AFCON and judging by the performance of our boys recently in their outings against top African teams, we have what it takes to qualify,” he affirmed.
“I’m therefore, urging The Gambia Government to come forward and support the team financially just like many countries do. The players should also know that whatever they’re doing, they are not doing it for the Federation but for themselves and love of the country. I also challenge everyone, stakeholders, businessmen & women, and the fans to support the team in good or bad times.”
Mr. Ceesay, who’s the Presidential Affairs correspondent for the privately owned QTV, reiterated that supporters should also understand that this is about country and should all endeavor to cheer up the boys.
Amadou Tamba of Capital FM Radio and Sarjo S. Jammeh both warned against complacency in the preliminaries. “We might be ahead of Djibouti on the FIFA World Rankings and performance, [but] we should not underestimate them.” However, they were also quick to urge their colleagues in the media to be seen on the forefront of promoting the game, and also constructively holding the authorities accountable.
“The media has a critical role to play. We have to all put our differences aside and have the national interest at heart to see us go through this time. We can do this. Let’s do it. Other countries are not better than us but they have the backing of their country, media, stakeholders, government and everyone,” Tamba emphasised.