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219 days, 1 hours, 55 minutes ago

Dr. Borry Jatta

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Gambia Football Association –Qualifying for 2008 National team selection.

Over the past few weeks, I have gone on the internet several times a day to follow the progress of the preparation of the scorpion and the final selection for the Liberia game. I was not impressed by the Gambian press, papers and journalists excitement with the arrival of the Gambian foreign based players. They seem to completely shun the home based players and what they have brought to the Gambian football.

All the commentary in all materials to do with the preparation focused on names of foreign based players, really disappointing. The most important thing is that GFA have up to date firsthand knowledge on the progress of all these foreign base players. GFA must know each players current physical condition, performance and appear in their foreign club games. That is what happens elsewhere to determine who plays for the national team.

I have every confidence in Paul Put the new coach but he is very new in this position and until he knows the players well enough, he will listen to his GFA advisers. Paul will need time to get to know his players and in the mean time, he needs good GFA advice. You are aware of the good home base players we are blessed with too. They have brought glory to the nation and they must be encouraged and given the opportunity.

Please do not get carried away with names of foreign base players many of whom you have not seen playing for months. I am confident that by mixing the home lads and foreign base players, we have competent number of players to not only to continue rising in the FIFA ranking but to qualify for the 2008 world cup.

I hope that Paul, the new coach and the GFA learned something from the 1-1 draw in Liberia and consider including good lads at home with the good home lads based abroad in foreign clubs for his final selection for the Gambia V Senegal match.

I am sure we can defeat Senegal but we will need careful team selection not based on names of players we have always heard mentioned, links to foreign clubs but on careful scrutiny of fitness, ability, skills, commitment, devotion and performance.

I am confident that GFA, in good partnership with Paul Put, will see to it that the Gambia qualifies for the 2008 world cup. We are counting on you.

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