A LOOMING CRISIS OF INJURIES AS GAMBIA HEADS TO QUALIFIERS

By Sulayman Bah There is a looming crisis of injuries besetting Gambian players ahead of the Scorpions’ game against South Africa next month, Foroyaa Sport can report. Gambia is currently grappling with the problems of securing a manager and ensuring that there is full preparedness for the June opening qualifier against South Africa in Johannesburg. However, this worrying prospect may be an issue facing whoever is assigned the task of leading the country’s team in the Gabon campaign. The strike department is one area that is threatening the Gambia’s match against Bafana Banafa as Ousman Jallow is already ruled out with a hamstring injury. The ex-Gambia U-17 Captain is reported to have sustained the abrasion while featuring for club side HJK Helsinki. The 26-year-old climbed off the bench to join the fray but soon got hauled off after hobbling off. It is not yet made public as to how serious his injury is, but there are suggestions that it may need surgery. This injury is coming at a time when the player had just played thirty three minutes of club football after signing for the Finnish champions following a one year sabbatical from football due to injury. Another worry for Gambia is Ali Sowe. The 20-year-old striker trading in the Italian second tier hasn’t featured for US Latina since April 28^th. The ex-Gamtel forward has recently gotten called to the Gambia seniors and was expected to be part of the invited list of players before this setback. A call-up from the Football House still remains a possibility should he recuperate on time. With Ousman Jallow and Ali Sowe out, Momodou Ceesay is the only established attacker who is in contention to join the plane to Johannesburg. But game time is a factor for the erstwhile MSK Zilina marks-man who has resumed club football only last week after spending weeks out. Captain Mustapha Jarju, who had been leading the Scorpion’s line in Jallow’s absence, is club-less at the moment after leaving Raec Mons. He had trialed with Club Brugge of the Belgian Premier League but which has not yet produced a positive result. Ibou Sawaneh who is focused on club success might be the answer if fans succeed in their demand for him to play for the national side.]]>