Former Revolution striker Mamadou Diallo could become a key to supplying America’s Major League Soccer with players from West Africa.

Natick-based agent Patrick McCabe recently concluded a scouting trip to Senegal and The Gambia, meeting with Diallo in Dakar in a player search inspired by the success of the Gambian duo Abdoulie Ken Mansally and Sainey Nyassi with the Revolution.

Senegal, which advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup, has established itself among the powers of African soccer. But McCabe believes The Gambia could offer better prospects than its much larger neighbour.

"The Gambia is an easier market to work with, it's not picked over like other African countries," McCabe said. "It's a better fit for the MLS for a lot of reasons - language [English] being one of them. Banjul is a modern city, with big apartment buildings, lots of good hotels. But it's also cheaper than Senegal."

Senegal, a former French colony, traditionally sends its best prospects to Belgium and France. The Gambia's first significant export to Europe was midfielder Alhaji Momodo Nije, known as "Biri Biri," who performed for Derby County and Sevilla in the 1970s. And Gambian players only recently have started to be exported in numbers, sparked by the success of the under-17 and under-20 national teams.

"We watched The Gambia defeat Senegal, 3-0, in a U-20 game and the Gambians were much better," McCabe said. "They don't have a lot of guys at the top level now and they need better coaching at the local level. They have never qualified for the World Cup or even the African Nations Cup, but the junior teams' success has jump-started the idea that they can be a force.

Mustapha Carayol, a Briton of  Gambian roots, has left English League One club, Milton Keynes Dons, to sign for Blue Square Premier side, Torquay United, in the Conference National League.

The 19-year-old has signed a two-year contract at Plainmoor after just one season with the Dons, having been brought in as one of Paul Ince's first signings. The former Swindon and Macclesfield winger spent most of last season on loan with Crawley Town, making 26 appearances for the team.

Carayol trained as a youth player with Swindon Town, before following Paul Ince to Macclesfield Town in 2006. When Ince became manager of Milton Keynes Dons in 2007, he signed Carayol, offering him his first professional contract.

He made his first team debut for MK Dons against Sheffield United in the League Cup in August 2007 and has since appeared in one further cup game. In October 2007, he joined Crawley Town on loan to gain further first team experience. On July 13, 2008, he was signed by Blue Square Premier side, Torquay United.

His new club, nicknamed the Gulls, is an English association football club based in the seaside resort town of Torquay, Devon. They will begin the 2008-09 season in the Conference National having lost their league status at the end of the 2006-2007 season. Founded in 1899, they joined the Football League in 1927 and spent their entire time in the Football League in the lower divisions.
 
Torquay United prided themselves on being one of the few clubs in the lower English football leagues to remain debt-free despite the debacle of the ITV Digital collapse.

Gambian connection

Talented midfielder Mustapha Carayol, whose grandfather currently serves as chairman of Independence Electoral Commission in The Gambia, holds a British citizenship. He is however, legible to play for The Gambia, and recently he has been closely watched by the Gambian football authorities.

Seedy Kinteh, President of The Gambia Football Association told Observer Sports that the football association is in contact with Carayol. He said the details of the player will be presented to the Scorpions coach who will later invite him for a trial.

A retired American professional basketball player and an active businessman in present times, Michael Jeffrey Jordan has been voted as the ‘greatest player of all time.’ Michael Jordan was born on 17 February 1963 to James R. Jordan, Sr. and Deborah Jordan at Brooklyn, New York. When Michael Jordan was still a child, his family shifted to Wilmington in North Carolina.

Michael happens to be the fourth of five children and has got two elder brothers and one elder and one younger sisters. Since Michael's father worked at an electric plant and his mother at a bank, his was not a rags-to-riches life story. The childhood of Michael Jordan was fairly comfortable and secure. He began his basketball career playing for Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina.  

Many would find this ironical, but this lad who was to later create history in the basketball game sphere was once cut out from the varsity team in his sophomore years. This happened because Michael Jordan’s height was just 5 feet 11 inches at that time, which was too short in order to be playing for that level. But he gained four inches by the following summer and having practiced robustly all the while, finally earned place in the varsity roster.   

The basketball record of Michael Jordan is simply out and out amazing. After his junior year, he was chosen with the third overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls. In the coming days, Michael Jordan went on to lead the Chicago Bulls to six NBA Championships in years 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998. Furthermore, he was also entitled NBA Finals MVP during all his championship winning years.

Michael Jordan turned big with an excellent first season, bagging the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 1984-85. An injury in the foot caused him to stay away for 64 games in his second campaign, but he returned with a bang late in the year. Once back, Michael Jordan scored an NBA playoff-record 63 points in a first-round game against the Boston Celtics.

Beginning from the 1986-87 season, Jordan kick-started a career-long assault on the record book of NBA. Michael Jordan holds the single series NBA Finals record for highest PPG average. He name featured in the All-NBA First Team 10 times. He holds the record for leading the scoring in the maximum numbers of seasons "10". He turned the first player in NBA history to record 200 steals and 100 blocks in just one season.
 
NBA was aghast at Michael Jordan’s pronouncing his retirement prior to the 1993-94 season. Jordan said it was the murder of his father previous year that led to this decision. But he returned to basketball once again in the 1994-95 NBA season and tried carrying the Bulls to another title. But despite his presence, the Bulls failed to get past the Orlando Magic in the conference semifinals and lost to them in six games. In 1984 as well as 1992, he was member of the gold medal-winning United States Olympic Basketball Teams.

Michael Jordan's hunger for the championship got satiated the following season when his team experienced the most outstanding wins ever seen by any club. Chicago Bull’s joint record of 87-13 for the 1995-96 regular season as well as playoffs was the best in NBA history. Mid way, Jordan also bagged the MVP awards for the regular season, All-Star Game as well as Finals, joining Willis Reed (1970) as the only man to win all three titles the same season.

The Bulls disintegration by Jerry Krause caused Jordan's second retirement and he stated that he would play basketball only for than Phil Jackson. The great player also voiced his wish to spend more time with his family. Phil Jackson moved on to the L.A. Lakers that was like the revamping of the Chicago Bulls. This group had players like Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and Rick Fox.

Michael Jordan in the meanwhile got associated with the Washington Wizards as President of Basketball Operations and its half owner in January 2000. But all his striving to spin the Washington Wizards out of the sidelines proved futile. Michael Jordan's deep craving to win caused him to return to basketball once again. At the same time, he also tried turning around the fate of the Wizards franchise.

Jordan started training, interacting with the media initially stating that he was only doing so in order to shed weight. During summer time, he gradually worked himself back into the basketball form by participating in many invitation-only camps of pickup games with other NBA players at a Chicago gym. As luck would have it, Michael Jordan proved unable to lead his Wizards into the postseason as a player. He retired for a third and final time after playing his final game on 16th April 2003.

Michael Jordan Facts

1963 - On 17 February, he was born to James R. Jordan, Sr. and Deborah Jordan at Brooklyn, New York

1970 – The entire Jordan family shifts to Wilmington, North Carolina.

1975 - He was named Jordan Mr. Baseball among North Carolina 12-year-olds by the Dixie Youth Baseball Association.

1978 – Jordan in his sophomore years was chucked out of the varsity basketball team due to his short height.  

1982 - Freshman Jordan wins the national championship for North Carolina at the Superdome in New Orleans.

1984 - Chicago Bulls pick Jordan third overall in the NBA Draft.

1984 - Co - captain of U.S. gold medal- winning Olympic basketball team.

1985 - Jordan was named NBA Rookie of the Year after averaging 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.4 steals.

1985 - In the third game of his sophomore season, Jordan injures his foot and misses 64 games.  

1986 - Jordan makes a return to basketball.

1987 - With 61 points in a 117-114 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Jordan becomes the first NBA player to score 3,000 points in a season since Wilt Chamberlain in 1962-63.

1988 - Jordan is named NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the first time after averaging 35.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 3.2 steals. This made him the first player to earn MVP and Defensive Player of the Year titles the same season.

1989 - In Las Vegas, Jordan marries Juanita Vanoy.

1991 - Jordan is named MVP for the second time after averaging 31.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.8 steals.

1992 - Jordan is named MVP for the third time after averaging 30.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.3 steals.

1992 – He was member of US gold medal winning Olympic team at Barcelona Olympics.

1992 - Forbes magazine state Jordan the highest-paid athlete in the world.

1993 – On 6 October, Jordan shocks the world by announcing his retirement from the NBA

1995 - Jordan issues a press release that states simply, "I'm back." He returns to the NBA and dons Jersey No. 45.

1996 – In May, Jordan is named MVP for the fourth time after averaging 30.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.2 steals in his first full season after comeback.  

1997 – On 9 February, Michael Jordan becomes the first player in All-Star Game history to record a triple-double, finishing with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in a 132-120 East victory in Cleveland.

1998 – In May, Jordan is named MVP for the fifth time after averaging 28.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.7 steals.

2000 - Michael Jordan gets associated with the Washington Wizards as President of Basketball Operations and its half owner in January.

2003 - He retired for a third and final time after playing his final game on 16th April 2003.


Michael Jordan Biography


Name :        Michael Jordan

Birth Date :     February 17, 1963

Birth Place :     Brooklyn, New York

Birth Name :     Michael Jeffry Jordan

Height :         6' 6''

Education :     Laney H.S. in Wilmington, NC North Carolina 1985

Wife :         Juanita Vanoy Jordan

Nationality :     American

Best Known As :     The world's most famous basketball player

NBA Experience :     13 seasons

Scorpions have resumed collective training last evening ahead of a mouth-wateing tie against the Terenga Lions of Senegal in the Week Two fixtures of the 2010 World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers.

The Banjul tie, which is dubbed by pundits as a typical West African derby, will come  just one week after the Scorpions settled for a 1-1 away draw to the Lone Stars of Liberia, while Senegal narrowly beat Algeria 1-0 in Dakar.

Scorpions’ skipper, Ebou Sillah, admitted the Senegal tie will be a tough fixture, but added that the Scorpions will not take anything for granted.

“Senegal match is going to be tough simply because we almost share the same culture and we speak almost the same language,” revealed the Scorpions’ most capped player.

Despite being a new face in the country, Scorpions coach, Paul Put, is not only aware of the intense rivalry that exists between the two neighbouring countries, but also the big name players in the Senegalese squad.

“To be honest, Senegal have big players, so it will be a tough game. But I have confidence in this team. The spirit in the team gives me the feeling that we can do it and with the support of the fans we will do it,”

“Our people have to come and support the team. They have be behind to push the team forward,” revealed Paul Put who started his Gambia assignment with a relatively desirable 1-1 draw result against Liberia on Sunday.

Jay Jay Okocha - so good they named him twice. This was the attitude of Bolton fans towards the gifted Nigerian after the skilful midfielder played the lead role in securing the Trotters Barclaycard Premiership status in his debut season at the club.

After a slow start to his Bolton career Okocha came into his own in the second half of the season, thrilling crowds with his tricks and pleasing Sam Allardyce with his match winning performances.

Bolton's Player of the Season had many memorable moments throughout the 2002/03 campaign, but his most important contribution was the winning goal against relegation rival's West Ham at the Reebok.

He looked set to become a cult hero amongst the fans, and if he wasn't then he most certainly is now. The Nigerian helped Bolton to one of their most successful seasons ever during the 2003/04 campaign and captained Nigeria to the semi-final of the African Nations Cup - missing a large and important chunk of the Trotters' season to do so.

Allardyce pulled off a considerable coup during summer 2002 when he convinced Paris St Germain midfielder and Nigeria World Cup star, Okocha, to drop his excessive wage demands and join Bolton Wanderers to fulfil his dream of playing in the Barclaycard Premiership.

Okocha brings the sort of exciting, international creative force that Reebok stadium crowds first saw towards the end of the 2001/02 season with Youri Djorkaef, and big things are expected of him from Allardyce and the rest of the coaching staff.

Okocha was playing football at the age of just 16 for his first club, Rangers international of Enugu, before a chance encounter whilst on holiday in Germany launched his international career. Okocha tried out for fourth division club Borussia Neunkirchen and they snapped him up.

In 1992 Okocha began his ascent in the German league, joining first division club Eintracht Frankfurt and signing professional terms. It was at Frankfurt that he first began to excite German crowds with his dazzling dribbling skills and drew the attention of European agents.

A £1million move to Turkish outfit Fenerbahce was the result in 1996 and Okocha helped his new side to the league title in his first season, but just two seasons later he was on the move again in a staggering £10million switch to Paris St. Germain, making him the most expensive Nigerian footballer ever.

After seeing out his contract with the French giants Okocha was available on a free transfer - hence the rumoured £3.3million-a-year wages he was rumoured to be demanding. It is testament to Allardyce's negotiation skills that he was able to convince the midfielder to drop his high demands and join the Barclaycard Premiership outfit.

In the 2004/05 season - his third for the Trotters - he made 33 appearances and scored 7 goals, including two in the first game of the season - a 4-1 victory against Charlton.

As if to prove his talent, Okocha was honoured with the BBC's African Player of the Year award (for the second successive year).

However, Okocha himself was critical of his form, which he called inconsistent in a season where he did not feature for Nigeria. He will want to prove to himself, more than anyone else, that he still has the talent to steer his team to success as the Wanderers embark upon a UEFA cup season in 2005/06.

Biograpgy

Augustine Azuka "Jay-Jay" Okocha (born August 14, 1973 in Enugu) is a Nigerian football midfielder, currently playing for Hull City. He was well known for being one of the best dribblers in the world at his prime.

Career

Before signing with the English Premier League club Bolton Wanderers (where fans wore t-shirts that bore the legend "Jay Jay. So Good They Named Him Twice"), Okocha played for Paris Saint-Germain, Fenerbahçe, and Eintracht Frankfurt.

During his time at Bolton, he managed to help them avoid relegation in the 2002-03 season, where after a 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough, he and Sam Allardyce famously danced on the pitch celebrating their survival in the top-flight of English football. In 2002 he was offered to Everton, however manager Walter Smith decided to sign David Ginola instead, as his salary would be heavily subsidised by Aston Villa.

He was regularly selected for the Nigeria national football team from 1993 until 2006. He was also captain of the Super Eagles when he retired from international football at the 2006 African Cup of Nations.

In 1993, while playing for Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany, he scored one of the most memorable goals in Bundesliga History. In a match against Karlsruhe, he dribbled through the entire defence of the team (beating some players twice) before scoring against goalkeeper Oliver Kahn. The goal was eventually voted 1993 Goal of the Year.

Okocha has played at the 1994, 1998 (where he was named in the official team of the tournament), and 2002 FIFA World Cup finals and many African Nations Cup tournaments. He was also a member of the Nigerian team that won the golden medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the only member of the 1994 national team that is still an active professional.

In 2004 he released a DVD called "Superskills with Jay-Jay Okocha" where he teaches children at a football school the most difficult tricks in football.

Okocha signed for Hull City on a one-year deal on 4th September 2007. He claims that God told him to sign for Hull. He stated that Hull City will be his last club, causing speculation that he will retire at the end of the 2007-08 season, bringing an end to his illustrious career.  Hull manager Phil Brown is currently trying to persuade him to stay on for another year: "That's Jay-Jay's decision but if I can persuade him otherwise, and if I feel it's right to, then I'll have that conversation with him." Following Hull City's promotion to the Premiership, Okocha has stated that he would like to stay on for another season.

Personal life

His Igbo name, Azuka, means "Your backers are your strength". Okocha is married to Nkechi, who is also a Nigerian, and they have two children together - Daniella and AJ. He also holds Turkish citizenship, his Turkish name being Muhammad Yavuz.  A few years ago Okocha invested a great deal of money in a Nigerian bank, the defunct Societe Generale Bank which ended in bankruptcy.

Honours

He is a member of the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers selected by Pelé in conjunction with FIFA's centenary celebrations. He was also the BBC African footballer of the year (2003 and 2004).


Personal information

Full name:    Augustine Azuka Okocha

Date of birth:    August 14, 1973  (age 34)

Place of birth:   Enugu, Nigeria

Height:          1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)

Playing position:    Attacking midfielder

Current club:    Hull City

Number:        44

Youth clubs:     Enugu Rangers

Senior clubs1

Years        Club    

1990–1992

1992–1996

1996–1998

1998–2002

2002–2006

2006–2007

2007–    Borussia Neunkirchen

Eintracht Frankfurt

Fenerbahçe

Paris Saint-Germain

Bolton Wanderers

Qatar SC

Hull City    

National team:

1993–2006    Nigeria    

Belgian Second Division giants, Beveren FC, are doing all they can to keep the Gambian youngster, Ebrahima Sawaneh, with the club, Observer Sports can reveal.

The crafted forward player, who is the  club’s current top scorer, has been the target of many big guns in the Scandinavian country, and Beveren are afraid the youngster might be lured away from the club after their failure to earn a  promotion to the First Division.

“Sawaneh is a player we want to keep. But as it is, it will be very difficult for us to keep him, in light of the fact that there are also other teams who are interested in him.”

“The club will do their best to commit the player on long-term basis,” information posted on the Beveren official website revealed.

Editor,

Hello there Observer. In regards to the suspension Ken received from GFA, to me it is a massive decision for the future of the game in The Gambia. This will serve as a point to any player wishing to act in such menace again. Slapping a referee!!!! It is the worst scene I have ever heard of in the whole world of football that I watch and read. Come on GFA! That is what we want to see. Discipline.

Mohammed Ceesay , UK

Editor’s Note:

Thanks Mr. Ceesay. I was beginning to feel lonely in my support of the GFA’s actions. Now I am not alone!

At a tender age, Abib Njie started football in the streets of Serrekunda.

Born in Dippa Kunda, Abib Njie played part of his early football with Walers FC, a nawettan team from Serekunda West.

Because of his talents in the striker position, Abib quickly gained recognition from both first and second division teams in The Gambia Football Association league.

After several years he made his way to the second division with a notably side Kaira Silo this season.

When Pointsports questioned him about his latest move, the young striker said“ I am very delighted to play for a team like Kaira Silo, it’s a good opportunity for me to show myself at the club”.

He said,” when I decided to play at divisional level, I was advised to start from second division. As a young person it is good to begin at the grass roots level”.

He described life at divisional level as different from nawettan teams.

“My first match in the second division was a very important game for me. I started the game and was very happy that I was part of the team.

Kaira Silo is a good team, all the players are united and the coaches are friendly. As they help us to develop in the game of football”, he explained.

However, Abib has great aspiration with Kaira Silo and is looking forward for the club to make to the first Division by nest season.

“I want to be a professional player one day to play for my country. I believed that it is what every player is looking forward to; serving their nation”, he concluded.

I read with keen interest the views of some football fans and pundits on the case of Hawks’ Ken Malamin Jammeh who is currently facing an indefinite suspension for slapping a referee during a league match.

Many admitted the player’s action was uncalled for, but claimed he should be pardoned by the football association since he is a discipline player.

Others even went to an extend of saying that his absence in the National team has created a vacuum and that the GFA should reconsider its decision.

I stoutly agree that Ken Jammeh is an industrious player. However, a good player should always wear the cap - discipline.

The player’s action is totally unacceptable, thus he must face the penalty no matter what, since it will serve as a good example for other players.

No player should be made indispensable particularly when it comes to national duties. And we owe it to the national football governing body, to make this notion crystal clear to every Gambian player.

I am not saying Ken Jammeh should not be forgiven, but I believe he should be made to spend some times at the sideline in our quest to curb indiscipline in the game we all cherish.