Assalaamu alaikum Samba,

 l think l mentioned Nyanga's name. Nyanga Sallah was my brother's best
friend, and not only a talented player, but a friend and a great guy l grew
up with in our old neighbourhood.Thanks for the memories, and l did not know
you played this game.

Jabou

In a message dated 12/28/99 9:15:05 AM Central Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:


 Assalamu alaikum G-L
 Alhamdullila, Thank you very much Adou Sey for bringing this
 BOLL ROLLING on the Forum,called Football or Soccer.
 I really enjoy this discussion but I did not see anyone mention a player
 from Augustinians, neither do anyone mention the miracle Augustinian
 team did during the midle of the 80`s as far as soccer is concern.

 Gambians has talent and determination in soccer,but no support at all.
 I want to tell you about myself without any pretention or show off.

 When I was a little boy I used to `Nyaye fence`,sometime I used to
 go to old lines by the police berracks or went to Primet street one of the
high
 buildings to watch football match as a poor student,there was a police
officer
 we used to called endurance,he was very active whenever he saw you `Nyaying
 the fence` he will come and get you out and beat you very seriously.
 I like the game verymuch but could not affort to pay to get inn,especially
when
 Real is playing.
 Realy De Banjul was my favourite team,and the late Nyaga Sallah,(may Allah
Shower
 him with his Mercy) who died tragically in the July 81 Coup,is just like am
seeing his
 image right now,I can remember the day of the coup he put on red track suite
with
 white stricks on.
 For those who saw him that they,correct me if I am wrong. I will never
forget that day
 in my life.
 Nyanga Sallah was a winger left that I used to imitate how he play
soccer,and I am
 natural left also like him.
 I want to mention some of the Real players that I can remember
 during the late 70`s and the bigenning of the 80`s:-

 Nyanga Sallah,Butut Joof,Pegee,Saihou Sarr,Garba Touray,Musa
 Njie,Garnet,Kebba Ceesay,Serign Fye, Jim Boy Mahoney and the
 others.

 In 1983 I started to trained very hard to join the Real Team.
 One day I went to the beach side to trained, I meet the Augustinians
 Team training and I did join them,after training, one of them asked
 me wheather I would like to play for them,I can`t remember who he
 was,but any way I did joined them.
 After I went home and said to myself that maybe I should joined
 them so that people can see what I can do in the field of
 soccer,from there maybe I can get the chance to play for Real.
 Augustinians was at the second division Teams at that time,I played
 for them for one season and we became last and has to go to Third
 division,most of the others dont want to played Third division.
 Sam Thorpe tried hard to recruit the young boys,and I did help him
 by talking with some of the youngstars that I trained together with for
 many Years and know each other. Although I was older than them
 but it doesn`t metter for me as far as we understand each other,no
 problem.

 With the help of God! we started from Third division,and we qualified
 for the Second division after Second division,we qualified to the
 First division Teams,there we defited all the First division Teams,both
 first round and second round,except Hawks that had onedraw and
 one defit against us,but the Big Teams like Wallidan and Real we
 beat them both first round and second round for first time in the
 history of Soccer in the Gambia. From Third division to First division
 and became the League Champion`s.
 Augustinians brake a record from 1983 up to 1987 they were the
 best Team in the Gambia.With the help of God!,Sam Thorpe,Poul
 Silver and Joe.We used to trained very hard than any other Team,
 sometimes we used to train two hours physically without ball control
 that`s why any Team that know`s that you are going to have
 Augustinians you have to trained extra hours.Birri and Saihou Sarr
 know`s that or any other player who was playing Soccer by that time
 and join the Gambia-L,I challange you for what I said about
 Augustinians during 84-87. We were the best with out any pretention
 or neither showing off.

 My dream did not came true,cause Real De Banjul was my favourite
 Team.

 Augustinians was playing against Real during the second round and
 that march was a march that we had to win to be came the League
 Champion`s.
 I got fracture on my left foot during the first five minutes by the Real
 gaolkepper Mam Malick Khan and that was his first march to play for
 Real De Banjul,and my last march also for Augustinians.

 Augustinians during 1984-87 had a Team that could represent the
 Gambia National Team,because we played collectivly and were
 physically fit and know each other,understand each other.
 We had good trainers and coach like Sam Thorpe and Poul Silver
 they were both fantastic and understandable. I dont forget our
 Manager August Prome and all those who were supporting us.

 May God give them longlife,goodhealth and progress.

 Thank you Adou for the support and interest you have for the Game.
 And I dont forget Modou Mbye who mention my best favourite player
 Nyanga Sallah(may Allah Shower him with His Mercy)

 If the GFA has good support and stop selecting their own stars from
 their own Teams,and try to chosed good players fairly,then I
 grauntee the Gambian`s will be well known in African Soccer like
 Nigeria and the other African Teams who performed in the World
 Cup. Because is to select good Team,and give them good support
 that`s all. The boys can play good Soccer,they have energy, skills
 and determination.

 Sam Thorpe wrote:

 Hi Pulo,
 Is this the Pulo that played for Augustinians Foot ball Team during
 the 80`s. Am Coach Sam Thorpe,now working as the Chief
 executive of the Gambia YMCA.
 Merry Chirstmas and a happy Millennium.
 Thank you for your attention.
 Sam.B.Thorpe.

 YES! Coach Sam that`s your winger left who played for the
 Augustinians Dream Team during the 80`s. From  84-87.

 Congratulation for you new Post.
 May God bless you Coach Sammy.

 I wish you Marry Christmas and a happy Millennium.

 Bamba Laye wrote:
 Yus,
 It is rather unfortunate that the boys may never have the chance to get the
outside
 experience they need to face some of these soccer giants simply because the
funds are not there. The GFA (up to the end of '94) under the leadership of
O.B Conateh, Sosseh and others, have tried collectively and personnaly to
revive the talents in these young men, unfortunately, their efforts
 have not been reciprocated by the government. If only the government can see
the
 future dividend to be earned in these young talents, they should look into
the matter
 with serious contention.
 As far as the match-ups, I think they have equal chance to face these giants
like
 everyone else, the unfortunate thing is that they don't have the same
resources
 as others. There is no doubt that they can put these giants to task if all
else is there.
 With that in mind, I would like to urge every soccer enthusiast at home and
abroad
 to support the GFA by all means necessary to take Gambian soccer to right
level.

 Abdoulie A. Jallow wrote:

     The Gambia simply does not invest enough money in football to develop a
     strong footballing tradition locally or  in the international arena.
Also,
     we did not ride or build on the momentum that our soccer had garnered
during
     two specific periods during the 80s.  The first opportunity to ride the
crest
     was during the 1980 Zone Two tournament
     or the government for the fate that has befallen our football because
there
     are too many extraneous circumstances involved  in this decline.  Gambian
     soccer has  been a victim of some mismanagement and uncontrollable
     circumstances as is the case in many African countries.

     Again, I don't intend to sound like a gloomy pessimist because we are
capable
     of producing as much talent as countries like Senegal or Liberia .

     Thank you very much Bamba Laye and Yusupha also for you comments
      I agree with you for your additional Facts.

    May your Today better than your Yesterday,and your Tomorrow better than
    your Today.....Ameeen!!!!!

    Allahummasalli alaa saidina Muhammadin wa alaa alli Muhammadin

   Samba Goddard
   (Pulo)
  >>

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