The Gambia U-20 National Team (Young Scorpions) have capped off their first training camp ahead of the forth coming WAFU Zone A U-20 tournament, Thies 2020. The One Week intensive session held at the National Technical Training Center at Yundum, has brought together a provisional squad of 32 players that was later trimmed to 26 and been acclaimed as successful.
Assessing the significance of the camp, Team Manager Pa Suwareh Faye thanked the Gambia Football Federation for the tireless efforts to supporting the team achieve its objectives. “The federation has given us all the necessary support to meet our logistics. The Coach and support staff are pleased with the camp arrangements and its outcome”, he said.
The training comes with series of fitness exercises coupled with friendly matches, meant to measure the level of preparedness from the lads and as such four test matches were held to hone the skills of the players. Subsequent to a robust and intensive training sessions, the young scorpions opened their test match programs to Third Div side Nema United with a 3-0 thumping before hitting past Busumbala FC with a heavy 5-0 triumph.
The WAFU bound side began nervously with Nema Utd before settling into their task. A driving run into the box from Wally Fofana in the 21st minute was only ended with a foul before Alieu Barry scored the resulting penalty to open the scoring for Mattar Mboge’s charges who dominated the first stanza with waves of attacks heavily mounted on the left flank. The 1-0 lead remained intact until the break.
Second half resumption saw the Young Scorpions increasing the tempo which yielded the second goal after forcing the opposition into an own goal through their pressing intensity. Substitute Alagie Kujabi and his mates changed the flow of the game and made it tough against opponents’ defenders before being hacked down in the area. Alagie Gibba stepped up for the converted kick and slotted home the national side. Team Captain Lamin Saidy was voted Man of the Match.
The second friendly was up against Busumbala thrashing the Kombo North side 5 nil. Kebba Manneh opened the scoring when he neatly crossed from the left wing been inadvertently headed by the defender into his own net for a goal as early as the opening 12 seconds.
The second came in the 12th minute when Momodou Salieu Jallow showed his fleet-footed ability to craft a wonderful goal. Momodou Bojang helped himself with the third following a cool finish after an assist at the back from Lamin Jawara. Kajally Drammeh, who would later be voted as man of the match was a danger throughout the match. He was brought down off the ball inside the box for a penalty, duly converted by Bojang. The Young Scorpions got those four goals in the opening 25 minutes to go into the break.
The second half was another display of dominance from the Young Scorpions. Drammeh was the lone scorer, after harassing the opposition defenders, winning the ball back and then going on to finish into the bottom corner of the net. An excellent display that has given confidence to the squad at a time when they were able to score 8 goals in one day.
Meanwhile, in the third friendly for the Young Scorpions, CAF Champions League bound side GAF lost 3-1 in a tough and entertaining encounter. The more experienced GAF made a bright start and took the lead but the Young Scorpions responded quickly through a fabulous goal from Momodou Salieu Jallow( Man of the Match) after a neat pass from Lamarana Jallow. It was the Young Scorpions that finished the first half the stronger as Wally Fofana struck to give them the lead.
The second half saw the Khaki Boys make numerous changes in order to push for the equaliser. A resolute display from the Young Scorpions held them at bay before Kajally Drammeh put the icing on the cake with a sharp finish making it 3-1.
The second game of the day squared off all wins for the Young Scorpions, this time a 2-1 win over CAF Confederation Cup reps GAMTEL. Captain of the day Momodou Bojang led the line up for the Young Scorpions and duly opened the scoring after 10 minutes subsequent to a good support play from Bakary Jawara.
GAMTEL managed to find the equaliser through a free-kick in the second half. Bojang was in determined mood however, he struck the winner after another cross from Jawara to seal the fourth consecutive win for the Young Scorpions during their preparation phase. Momodou Bojang was selected as the man of the match.
Head Coach Mattar M’Boge described the camp as successful noting that the results are not his primary focus but was pleased with his charges’ quick response and understanding of their tactical philosophy. “I am pleased with what we’ve achieved so far and there is so much potentials that we can work on with these boys. Our objective is to guide them to adapt to the philosophy of moving forward and taking every opportunity to score”.
He thanked the GFF, Coaches and fans following the development of the team adding their voices to help them achieve the targets together. Reacting to retaining 26 players at the end of the first phase, M’Boge noted that it’s a difficult decision that had to be made but there are more opportunities for the ones released while challenging the ones retained to continue fighting for their spots. “Four of the released players will be eligible for for the 2023 U-20 Afcon, so they would be called again”
PROVISIONAL SQUAD 26
GOALKEEPERS (4):-
Lamin SAIDY (Real de Banjul), Pa Ebou DAMPHA (Waa Banjul), Musa DRAMMEH (Red Hawks), Alagie SAHO (BK Milan)
DEFENDERS (7):-
Bakary JAWARA (Fortune), David SAMBOU (Real de Banjul), Modou JOOF (GPA), Lamin JAWARA (Hawks), Peter SAMBOU (GPA), Habibou MENDY (Brikama United), Lamin KASSAMA (BK Milan)
MIDFIELDERS (11):-
Tijan MARR (Fortune), Baba CEESAY (Banjul United), Mass NJIE (Hawks), Samba JALLOW (Brikama United), Lamarana JALLOW (Elite United), Adama KANTEH (Latrikunda United), Ebou CAMARA (Waa Banjul), Alagie KUJABI (Team Rhino), Ba Lamin SOWE (Waa Banjul), Momodou Salieu JALLOW (Waa Banjul), Wally FOFANA (BK Milan)
FORWARDS (4):-
Kajally DRAMMEH (Real de Banjul), Alieu BARRY (Elite United), Alagie Gibba (Wallidan), Momodou Bojang (Brikama United)
The team is scheduled for another training engagement at Soma, LRR on Friday 30th October with two friendly matches on Saturday with provincial Jarra boys at the Soma Mini Stadium.
