A delegation comprising Gambian players and officials this morning arrived in the major Moroccan economic city of Marrakesh ahead of a 10-day training camp. As part of the camp, the Scorpions will play Guinea Conakry on 7th June and against the hosts on 12th June 2019 in two high profile international friendlies.
The delegation is headed by the President of the Kanifing Municipality Regional Football Association Mr. Pa Yusu Samba and also include the Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Youth & Sports, Mr. Abdoulie Kah. The Technical Director of The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) Mr. Sang John Ndong and the Director of Marketing & Communications Mr. Baboucarr Camara as well as Team Manager Ousman Cho Drammeh are all part of the delegation.
The players that are already in camp include strikers Musa Barrow & Yankuba Jarju, goalkeepers Modou Jobe & Alhagie Nyabally, defenders Mamadou Futty Danso, Bubacarr Sanneh & Ngine Njie and midfielder Ebrima Sohna as well as Equipment Officer Mustapha Kassama.
Head Coach Tom Saintfiet, assistant Matarr M’Boge, Team Doctor Kalifa Manneh, Physiotherapist Dawda Danso and goalkeeper trainer Alhagie Marong had earlier on Saturday jetted in at Marrakesh to start preparations ahead of the arrival of the squad. The remaining players are expected today and tomorrow and the team is lodged at the magnificent Adam Park Hotel & Spa and will get their first taste of the Marrakesh pitch on Tuesday when they trained there at 6:30am.
The Federation, amongst other things organised this training camp and test matches to avail Mr. Saintfiet, who last week agreed to a new two-year contract extension with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the opportunity to invite new and old players to the National Team as well as to have test matches within a FIFA international break to improve our FIFA Rankings. It is also expected that the camp would create more cohesion between the Scorpions, staff of the National Team, the GFF and the Ministry.