By Sulayman Bah
Following the Scorpions’ hard fought stalemate in Durban, Gambian
captain Abdou Jammeh has hailed public support offered to the team.
Gambia stunned a wasteful Bafana Bafana to pick their first point of
Gabon 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Cup qualifiers.That point, in what Gambia’s first appearance in international
competition since Caf’s ban, didn’t come without tough battle as
visitors Gambia sat on the back foot with only one open goal chance
the full ninety.
The draw has revived fans interest in a team that has been no much a
catalogue of disappoints on the back of many years of attempts without
success to qualify for the continental event.
And speaking three days after the duel in Johannesburg, Gambian
captain Abdou Jammeh who flew back to KuPS in Finland yesterday, was
all acknowledgements over the massive support offered to the team.
The 28-year-old Journeyman player –part of the six players reportedly
denied visas by South Africa’s embassy while in Uganda, wrote to his
thousand plus following: ‘As one of senior players or Captain of the
Scorpions, I want to seize the opportunity on my behalf and that of my
colleagues to thank all Gambians for their prayers, The fans for the
fabulous support, the Coach and the technicians for the motivational
guidance and encouragement, and GFF and the Government for the moral
and financial support.’
‘We all know how tough it is travelling in Africa and playing African
opponents at home, but you carried us through the challenges. We hope
this is just the beginning of a new dawn and greater things to come in
Gambian football,’ the former Torpedo Moscow, SK Lierse and KuPS
stopper says.
Abdou Jammeh despite landing only yesterday remains in contention to
play a part in KuPS’s game against Hifk tomorrow.
Talking to the press earlier shortly after the final whistle the
ex-Steve Biko skipper paid tribute to his team-mates’ heroics
revealing Gambia’s game plans was to frustrate the hosts.
“Our game plan was to come and frustrate South Africa. We only trained
for 45 minutes with the team as we arrived in South Africa on Friday.
Seven of us arrived late, I think with that said, we can do better as
a team. We expected better football from Bafana and they did play
better I must say. We’re now looking forward to the Cameroon game and
it’s not going to be easy, but we’ll try and prepare we’ll. We are aiming
for three points at home. We’ll start counting our points target after
that game, we’ve started the journey now and we’ll take it one game at
a time.”
Camerron now tops Gambia’s group after stealing a late winner against
Mauritania.]]>
