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Gambia U-17 Play Bissau Saturday

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:01:20 GMT

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

The Gambia U-17 side will take on Bissau in an international friendly match billed for Saturday

August 2nd 2008, at the Independence Stadium in Bakau as part of preparatory efforts by The Gambia Football Association for the first round matches of the 8th African U-17 Championship in Algeria in 2009.

Speaking to Pointsports, Seedy MB Kinteh, President of the Gambia Football Association, stated that the GFA will do their level best to ensure the qualification of the U-17 team in the 2009 CAF U-17 Championship.

He pointed out that the purpose of the friendly is to test the level of preparedness of the team for the first leg encounter against Sierra Lone in Banjul on August 30th 2008.

He called on all Gambians to rally behind the team and also assist them financially and morally.

“Looking at the important game we have ahead of us in August, I am appealing to all Gambians to come out in their large numbers to cheer the boys to victory on Saturday as it is a testing ground setting the stage for Sierra Leone game,” he added.

Author: By Lamin Darboe

Source: Picture: Seedy MB Kinteh (President of the Gambia Football Association)

Over D500,000 Alleged Theft at Kanilai Group International

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:17:40 GMT

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

One Modou Manga, former Store Manager who is also responsible for deliveries to Kanilai Group International, is currently before the court in connection with the alleged theft of 1,952 bags from a stock of 66,172 bags of rice, said to be the property of Kanilai Group International (KGI).

According to the particulars of offence, the accused, Mr. Manga, in between the months January and April 2008, stole by clerk D585,600.00, being the cost of 1,952 bags of rice he allegedly stole from his employer, Kanilai Group international. Mr. Manga denied the charges against him.

While testifying as prosecution witness, the Accountant of the said firm, Mr. Muhammad Mubarak, said that when he was taking over as Accountant, the stock of rice was 66, 172 bags of rice. He noted that he only came to notice some discrepancies when he tried to supply the president’s demand for some bags of rice.

According to PW1 the accused was thereafter invited at the NIA for questioning, wherein he (the accused) confessed that he had failed to surrender the proceeds from the sale of 2,152 bags of rice. He further adduced that an amount of D60,000 was thereafter taken from him, leaving the cost for 1,952 bags as the outstanding balance.

Author: By Soury Camara

Source: (Monday, 28th July 2008 Issue)

Who is to Blame?

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:09:51 GMT

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

No sooner had the International Criminal Court (ICC) indicted Sudan’s leader Omar al-Bashir for crimes against humanity than his loyalists cried out against the action, saying that it would jeopardise the peace process. But that is just one objection. The other objection is that the ICC is on a witch hunt of African leaders. A more ridiculous objection we have never heard.

Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia now standing trial at the ICC, is notorious for his terrible acts as a rebel leader and as president. His arrest and trial are therefore justified. He now has the chance to establish his innocence. For the many people whose lives Taylor ruined, having him on trial for his atrocities is not punishment, but justice. This monster called Charles Taylor deserves no less. But if the court finds him innocent, so be it.

The Sudanese conflict is on record as the longest armed conflict on the continent. And the humanitarian challenge it has posed ever since its outbreak is unimaginable. Millions have lost their lives and many more have been displaced, condemned permanently to a life of tragedy and misery. And al-Bashir is seen as a key perpetration of this tragedy. Like Taylor, he should go to the ICC to clear himself. Why the fear, if he knows that his hands are clean?

What is happening to Taylor and al-Bashir is not an anti-African leader campaign. Even if it is, then these leaders have given the prosecutor cause for them to have them on trial. If they had practiced good governance, with respect for human rights, transparency and accountability, then they would not have been going through this ordeal.

This then should serve as a lesson to other incumbent leaders that they cannot misgovern us, plunge us into civil wars and degradation and hope to get away with it. It is our contention that what is happening to both Taylor and al-Bashir is a positive development in the sense that the few remaining dictators on the continent will have to learn; otherwise, the long arm of justice will slowly but surely catch up with them someday.

The MO Prize has rewarded an African leader who served his people well. If we have to go by the dictum that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, then al-Bashir is only about to reap what he has sown.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Martin Luther King

Statement by President of the Sport Journalists Association of The Gambia, on the Commemoration of the International Sports Journalists Day

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 06:15:01 GMT

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Dear Colleagues,
The Gambia, will today, Wednesday July 2, 2008, join the rest of the World to commemorate the International Sports Journalists’ day.

It is indeed my great honour and pleasure to wish you all the best for this important day in the annals of sports journalism worldwide.
July 2 was earmarked by the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) as the official day of celebration because of its significance as the date when the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) was established at the 1924 Paris Olympics.
This July 2, 2008 will mark the 84th anniversary of the founding of AIPS.

I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate all members of The Gambia Sports Journalists Association for a job well done in recent years

We have indeed witnessed great development and expansion of our Association from its foundation in November 10, 1998 with only eight journalists, into vibrant national and international organisation it is today representing more than 45 members.

The Day will be commemorated in The Gambia for the first time in a form of a March past and open forum at the Youth Monument at West Field.

The forum is expected to be attended by sports authorities, sports associations and stakeholders in the development of sports and journalism.

The theme of the celebration is” Role of Sports Journalists in Sports Development”

I wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of each and every one of you specially the new generation of committed and professional journalists that took over the mantle of leadership of the association from the old guard.

The 24th March 2004 revolution in the Association which has brought my tenure as President could not have come at a better time as the then leadership was falling short in principally guide the association after six years into office.

I urge you as colleagues to further strengthen our co-operation which has served as the main force through our tenure.

I call on you to strive for greatness, not only professionally, but by representing the ideals of our association and by setting a good example as global citizens. It is now more important than ever to consolidate our traditions.

Once again, my heartfelt congratulations on this festive occasion. Enjoy celebrating International Sports Journalists’ Day, 2008.

Yours sincerely,
Namory Trawally

President SJAG

Source: Picture: Namory Trawally (President SJAG)

The Gambia U20’s Score a Home Victory

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:37:50 GMT

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Tuesday, July 01, 2008

The Gambia U 20 team claimed victory in their first international engagement in the 16th edition of the African Youth Championship qualifiers to be held in Rwanda next year.

The Under 20’s snatched a 1-0 victory over Mauritania in Banjul last Sunday.

The match was well contested by the two sides. The Gambian team created lot of chances but finishing was the problem for the team, equally the Mauritanian side also made several attempts to enter the Gambian box but the Gambian defenders did not allow them to penetrate. In the 35th, 39th, and 40th minutes of the first half Cherno Njie, Aruna Jammeh and Pa Modou Jagne missed lot of goal opportunities.

The boys, during the coarse of the game were playing a lot of aerial balls which was not favourable to the Gambians the Mauritanian were capitalising on the situation. Luckily for The Gambia during injury time the team captain Pa Modou Jagne relieved the Gambian fans the pressure by scoring the wining goal for The Gambia.

The winners between The Gambia and Mauritania are expected to meet Ghana or Libya in the final stages of the Qualifiers.

Author: By Pa Modou Faal

Source: Monday 30th June 2008 Issue Pictures: Gambian U-20 (1) and Mauritania U-20 (2)

GT Bank Introduces International Money Transfer Service

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 02:50:15 GMT

Friday, June 20, 2008

In its relentless efforts to meet the banking needs of its regional customers, Guaranty Trust Bank, has gone a step further to introduce GT Bank International Money Transfer (GTMT) service.

The service, which is expected to initially start within the West African sub-region, will now enable customers as well as non-customers of the bank to receive and send money with ease and speed. With the presence of GT Bank in four countries across West Africa, the GTMT service would squarely solve the perennial problem associated with money transfer within the sub-region.

In essence, this new product will also enable customers and non-customers of the bank in Nigeria, Gambia, Ghana and Sierra Leone to walk into any of the various branches of the bank in any of these countries to receive and send money.

The product has a number of advantages and benefits over existing modes of money transfer. Firstly, it is instant and secured. A customer only needs to walk into any of GT Bank branches with cash and within minutes, the sender would be given a pin code for the receiver to use in collecting the transferred funds.

Secondly, it is relatively cheaper than other existing modes of transfer as its charges a flat rate of 3% on amounts above $300, while a flat sum of $10 is charged for amounts below $300.

Interestingly also, the service is available to both account and non-account holders of all Guaranty Trust Banks in Nigeria, The Gambia, Sierra Leone and Ghana.

There is also a fixed exchange rate as the payment and receipt of funds is in US dollars unless the recipient requests for the local currency. Users could also make a huge transfer of up to a limit of $10,000 per transaction.

According to the Managing Director of GT Bank (Gambia) Ltd Mr. Lekan Sanusi, “The fixed exchange rate would eliminate the high risk of customers getting huge losses as the exchange rate of the US Dollar changes on daily basis.

“At GT Bank, customer satisfaction is second to none in anything we do,” he added.

He pointed out that with the large presence of Nigerian, Sierra Leonean and Ghanaian populations in The Gambia, GTMT would be highly welcomed.

Commenting on the reliability of the GTMT service, Mr Bolaji Ayodele, GTB (Gambia) General Manager who also heads the operations division, said the reliability of the new service is devoid of any short coming as it immediately notifies the sender of the transaction by email message.

Mr. Ayodele went on to say that when the receiver finally receives the money, an email message is automatically sent to the sender for notification of receipt of the money.

Author: By Baboucarr Senghore

Gambia U-20 to Stage Friendly with Senegal

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:30:02 GMT

Thursday, June 12, 2008

National U-20 Coach Lorenzo Rubbinacci will test the strength of his side in a friendly international to be stage between The Gambia U-20 team with that of Senegal on the 21st of June in Banjul.

The match will be part of the FA’s preparatory efforts for the team’s match against Mauritania on June 28 in Banjul in the qualifying rounds of the 16th African Youth Championship in 2009 in Rwanda.

The winner between The Gambia and Mauritania are expected to meet Ghana or Libya in the final stages of the Qualifiers.

The Gambia youth team put up a very good performance during the last African and World Youth championships and were the African bronze medalists in Congo.

Author: By Sainabou Kujabi

Source: Picture: Gambia U-20 Team

GTA Official Dies, Others Injured in Accident

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 04:21:34 GMT

Thursday, June 05, 2008

In what is seen as the saddest news dogging the 9thedition of International Roots Festival, an accident on Monday, 2ndJune 2008 resulted in the death of Musa Krubally, a staff of Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA), while Assan Cham and Sulayman Baldeh, Red Cross volunteers, suffered injuries.

The accident is reported to have happened around Njaba Kunda, North Bank Region (NBR) while the International Roots Homecoming Festival entourage was heading to Janjanbureh where a related occasion was scheduled to take place.

According to eyewitness accounts, the vehicle that the late Musa Krubally was using somersaulted due to faulty wheels, causing his death on the spot as a result of head injuries.

Author: By Abdou Rahman Sallah & Njie Baldeh

International Federation of Journalist Takes Major Decisions at Executive meeting Brussels.

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 02:44:57 GMT

Monday, June 02, 2008

The International Federation of Journalists in their executive meeting in Brussels on 1 of June 2008, decided to expel Force Ouvriere ( France) and Thailand with immediate effects. This came as a result of the lack of compliance of the two members regarding membership fees. In the same line it was an executive decision for Georgia to be warned. The Nigerian Union is also to be written regarding their debts

It was agreed to endorse the application of DJV in Germany for part exoneration of fees for 2008 with an undertaking to pay fees in full from 1 January 2009. Another application from the Dominican Republics seeking an exoneration of 360 Euros was agreed.

The executive committee agreed to a proposal from the general Secretary to prepare a report on the development of the IFJ press card for the next meeting. He said it would be important to think of strengthening the security and to modernize the format in order to ensure bits place as the only credible international accreditation of journalists

On new membership, the EC committee admitted the The first Trade Union of public Television and Radio Broadcasting Company of Azerbaijan as full member,Brundi Association of journalists, accepted as associated member, Afghan Independent journalists Association was also admitted as an associate member of the IFJ, the Rwanda Journalists association was also admitted as an associated member

There were rejections to an immediate admission of the Libyan Journalists Association into IFJ. The matter was deferred to the next meeting where a decision will be taken. The Nation Press union of Congo also falls under the same category.

The meeting ended and the next meeting will be hosted by French Union of journalists in Paris November 14-15 2008.

Author: Madi Ceesay

Source: Meeting

Edi: I Will Tell You When The Time is Up

Thu, 29 May 2008 05:10:03 GMT

Thursday, May 29, 2008

The former Wasall player and Gambian international Edirisa Sonko has told journalists that when the time is up he will let them know about his decision as to where he will be heading because currently a lot of clubs are looking for his signature.

“I don’t need to rush that’s why I arrived late. I have a lot of offers in England and am looking at it seriously, they are good teams,” he said.

He revealed that Southampton is one of the teams that wants his signature and at the end of the day all things will be done.

“It is good to play in England, as it is different from other countries. I played in Holland for over six years and I could term England as the best place for me. It was quite tough for me in the beginning as it took me three months before I adapted to their style of play,” he narrated.

Edi said, “it is every players wish to play to the highest level were the standard of play is so advanced like the Premiership. It is very fortunate for me that I started from league one and am looking forward to the Premiership,” he stated.

It will be recalled that the Gambian international Edirisa Sonko was released by his former league one side Walsall FC at the end of his one-year contract and a lot of offers started showering in on and waiting on the Gambian International in the UK.

Author: By Ebou Manneh

Source: Picture: Edrissa Sonko