The Gambia Basketball Association has called
for more support in order to help the association fulfill its
commitments. The association made the plea yesterday through its
president at a press conference ahead of this weekend's domestic league
finals in both men and women categories.
Muhammadou Papa Njie, who was speaking at Wednesday's briefing along
the Kairaba Avenue, urged the general public and fans of the teams that
are participating in the finals to come out in their numbers and cheer
to their respective teams.
The first game on the menu will be the meeting between Saint
Augustine's against Gambia Armed Forces in the women category that will
be preceded by the men's final involving Young Men's Christian
Association and Serekunda West. The games in both categories are a
repeat of last year's finals and action will take place at the
Independence Stadium in Bakau.
Speaking further, Njie called on the government, individuals and
business people to come to their aid in supporting basketball in the
Gambia, noting that the association definitely needs assistance if they
are to fulfill their commitments as well as to lift the status of the
game to a higher level. The basketball boss, who hailed the
participating teams in the finals for their wonderful performances and
sportsmanship throughout the course of the competitions, disclosed that
aside from action on the court, there will be live performances by
popular Gambian artists and cheerleaders to entertain the crowd during
the games.
Reflecting on the rules and regulations of this year finals, Abdoulie
Jallow, the secretary general of the GBA congratulated the four teams
that made it to the finals. Jallow who reminded that last year's
competition was held in a league and knockout format noted that this
year the association decided to change the format to something more
exciting and in line with the National Basketball Association, the
governing body of the sport in the United States of America. He
explained further the rationale behind this and how to go-by it which he
noted all the participating teams agreed to before the beginning of the
competitions. Jallow also encouraged the supporters of all the four
teams to create a great ambience during the matches.
Coaches and captains of all four teams together with the first vice president of the association all made similar sentiments.