Speaking to Pointsports shortly before their departure at the BanjulInternationalAirport, Nuha Darboe, Secretary General of the Gambia Handball Association said the Gambian team has done all the necessary preparations for the championship, noting that the Gambian team will do everything possible to bring glory home. The participating countries are: The Gambia, Sierra-Leone, Cameroon and the Gambia

The Gambia delegation is lead by the president of Handball Association Mr Kebba Jobe. The team is expected back on Sunday.

The Senegalese coach recently made a call for the return of striker Momadou Niang and giant defender Souleymane Diawara for what is considered the most crucial derby encounter against their rivals the Gambia in the world and African cup preliminaries round slated for the 11thOctober 2008 in Dakar, Senegal.

It could be recalled that Khalilou Fadiga’s last appearance for the Senegalese national team was 26thMay 2005.

The Senegalese team needs to beat the Gambia to advance to the next stage while the Gambia needs only a point against Senegal according to the football analyst.

The Scorpions will be without Pa Saikou Kujabi during the weekend’s crucial game against Senegal after the left full back contracted malaria.

The Gambia’s European coach Paul Put has confirmed that the 22-year-old defender, who plies his trade with the Austrian first division side, SV Reid, will not be available for the encounter.

But the Belgian will still be able to field his strongest team yet with all other players fit.
“It’s a sad news that Pa Saikou will miss the match. He called to inform me that he won’t be coming because he has contracted malaria, Put told Observer Sports.

“He is a left-footer and we have few left-footers in the team. But I have the confidence that the player who will replace him will do well”.

Tijan Jobe is a junior college transfer from The Gambia who is presently making a name for himself at the Indiana University men’s basketball team in United States.

Jobe, a 7-foot, 255-pound center, had brief sting with Olney Central College in Illinois before signing a national letter of intent to attend Indiana University and play basketball for the team beginning this season - a development that excited the Indiana officials.

"We are excited to be able to sign a player with the defensive ability and rebounding presence that Tijan has," said his new manager Tom Crean.

"We feel he has a lot of room for growth in the sense of improving on both the defensive and offensive end and we love the fact that he plays extremely hard. His height and wingspan (7-5 1/2) is something that our team was in great need of."

Originally from Banjul,  Jobe averaged 4.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and a block for Olney Central College last season. He attended Butler County Community College as a freshman and attended Laurinburg (N.C.) Prep School.

He went to the United States four years ago through the African Hoop Opportunities Providing an Education Foundation (A-HOPE), which is run by Bloomington resident Mark Adams. The foundation is designed to provide talented basketball players from a host of African countries the opportunity to go to the United States to use their skills as a means to get a U.S. education.

The Gambian, who chose Indiana over scores of other teams, is ready to prove that he belongs.

“Of course, I have a long wingspan,” Jobe said. “I’ll make use of that.”
Offensively, Jobe said his coaches have been working with him to help develop a mid-range jump shot. Although Jobe admits he prefers to have his back to the basket on offense, he said the coaching staff has been working with him on facing up on to open lanes for the guards. Jobe said his big role on offense will be to set screens for the many guards on the team and create open space for them to make plays.

Quizzed about the way the team is coming together, the big man said he has noticed changes in every player on the team since they’ve started playing together.

“Everybody’s getting better everyday,” Jobe said.

He said said since he has come to the United States, he hasn’t been able to go back to The Gambia, and although he said he loves Bloomington and has a brother and sister who work in Washington, he still misses his home.

“I miss all my friends back home,” Jobe said. “I miss my family.”
Jobe said he hopes to be able to visit his family next year, but until then, he will be counted on by Crean, a man impressed with Jobe’s work ethic.

As part of their preparation for their first leg encounter of the 2009 CAF U-20 qualifiers in Ghana on September 27th 2008, The Gambia U-20 team played a test game with the U-17 side on Wednesday at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

The match, which was dominated by the U-20, ended 3-1 in their favour.

Paul Jatta opened the scores for the U-20 in the 18th minute and Emmanuel Gomez and Mustapha Jatta made it 3-0 in the 49th and 75th minutes respectively.

The U-17 consolation goal was scored by Salifu Badjie a few minutes before the end of the game.

Speaking to Lamin Sarr, Assistant Coach of the U-20 team, he said the game was very significant for both teams especially the U-17 side which will be engage over the weekend in Freetown.

But despite the defeat, U-17 Coach Tarik Siagy is confident that the team will make it in Sierra Leone.

Speaking during the presentation, the player adviser of Ousman Jallow, Mr. Ambrose Mendy, who speak on behalf of the Brondby Club, said “the team wants to bring a good relationship with Ousman’s home country The Gambia. Within a short period they have gathered a few items for a few lucky people, which is a very good initiative as it shows that where ever you go you must look back to your country.” He continued saying, “this a dream of every player who wants to go out and do something for your homeland.” The presentation was witnessed by the first vice-president of The Gambia Football Association Major General LangTombong Tamba, Simon, Ousman Jallow’s lawyer and some of the members of the press.