Well, Alhagi Njie Biri is still the greatest Gambian footballing export ever.
 On a side note, the Zone II tourney just started and we managed to draw 1 -
1 with Les Grandes.

Check this interview out.  it's quite informative.


Culled From All Africa.com - Independent

Make no peccadillo about it, Biri has carved a comfortable soccer niche for
himself, written his name in lights and deservedly stamped his mark into the
annals of history. What more could be said of a man who was Gambia's first
professional footballer? A man who set alight the Spanish and Danish leagues
with Seville and B1901 respectively, sweeping many honours, rubbed shoulders
with the likes of John Cruyff and Diego Maradona and whose international
career spanned an unassailable record of twenty four years? Simply put, Biri
is a soccer icon and as he waxes eloquently here in this interview, finding a
mould for him will not be an easy task.

Born Alhagie Modou Njie in the forties, Biri had primary education at Albion,
Stanley and St. Mary's schools before wrapping it up at Crab Island Secondary
School. From there, he worked at the Marine Department before he left to
concentrate wholly on the round leather profession.

After fantastic spells with five home clubs, he flew to the home of football
(England) for trials with Derby County, but racism proved to be the stumbling
block. However, glory and luck glittered on him in Spain and Denmark where,
like King Midas, everything he touched just seemed to turn to gold.

But The Gambia was calling, so he returned home and gave the benefit of his
legendary talents to local football clubs, his own home boys, before finally
ending it all with Wallidan, for whom he played after a well-executed
international football career. No wonder he still has a fan club in Seville.

Today, as Deputy Mayor of Banjul and probably the most capped squad player,
Biri, in this issue of Portrait, empties his heart on his favourite all time
player, how he got the nickname he still bandies and President Jammeh.

What lured you into football?

Well, it was the game that we played during our childhood days. We played on
the streets and at the football grounds. In a nutshell, that was what lured
me into football.

You played for Black Diamonds, White Fathoms, Augustinians and Wallidan. Can
you remember how many goals you scored for these clubs?

Hey, brother, that is a difficult question! I can't remember the number of
goals but I started my career at Black Star, from there I moved to Black
Diamonds, White Fathoms, Arance, Augustinians and finally Wallidan, where I
finally hung up my boots.

Were you playing for all these sides while you were in the national team?

Yes. I started playing in the early sixties. In 1963, I was selected to be in
the national team. By that time, I was a sixteen-year-old kid. When the Stade
Demba Diop was being opened in Senegal (in those days, it was called Stade
Amy Thiaw) I was dropped because I was a kid, even though we played in the
same league! Still, I stowed away with the team. In Dakar, I managed to watch
the encounters between The Gambia and France, Gabon and Upper Volta (present
day Burkina Faso). In the Gambia - France encounter, we were humbled 5 - 1!

The French were fresh from the 1962 World Cup and the team that defeated us
had about four players who had been in Chile. The other national teams were
not keen to take on France but we stood up to them and though we lost
heavily. In the other matches, the Gambia drew 2 - 2 with both Gabon and
Burkina Faso.

Gambia lost 6 -1 to Liberia on your debut. Were you overwhelmed with the
heavy loss during your debut?

Nobody rejoices in defeat. Of course, I was happy to enter the pitch in my
country's colours but I was sad also because it was my first international a
nd I lost. I don't like to lose in any competition I venture into. To triumph
has always been my goal.

You were capped while you were in school. How were you blending football with
your studies?

As they say, there is a time for everything. In this case, you have to
combine both together because if you are not fit, you will not be able to
study properly. If you don't study, surely you will not pass.

Football did not tamper with my schooling as I gave equal time to both.

Your international career spanned a period of twenty-two years. How many caps
and goals did you obtained for the Gambia?

Actually, I cannot remember because, in those days, there were no records.
However, I played for the national team for twenty-four years (1963 - 1987)!
I then retired in the same year when I was in the same side as my son.

How did you go for trials to the English club, Derby County?

I went to Derby County via the late Matarr Sarr, who was the captain of the
national cricket team. He saw my performances and reckoned I was fit to play
in England. He did all the arrangements and then informed me. When I went
there, I did not let him down because I did more than expected. However, in
those days, racism was at its peak in Britain and black people shied away
from sports. I would have been the first black player to grace the English
league, had everything went fine. That was in 1970. That was why Derby's
manager, Bryan Croft, suggested that I returned home and that they will send
for me. I came home until a Danish club, B1901, came for me.

Surely, you must have had a culture shock when you went to far-flung and
freezing Denmark?

In fact, it was not a culture shock because I had already been in England.
When B1901 came here and played against Wallidan, I was spotted quickly
because the supporters here were howling about my skills and prowess. Thus,
B1901's trainer, Kurt Nielsen, took note of that.

He did not know me personally but when we kicked off he asked if I was the
much hyped-about Biri Biri? He was told yes and he said: "no wonder with the
talent he possesses, he can be a professional at any time."

We played and lost 5 - 4 and I scored a hat trick. B1901 were to play against
Real de Banjul and I was made to play to see if I could fit in the B1901
team. They got what they wanted for I tore Real apart, scoring four times.
Infact, I scored five but the referee, Alhagie Mboob, disallowed a clear
goal. However, tension began to peak and O.B Conateh, had to come down from
the pavilion and asked me to come off the pitch. Some people were saying that
I sided with the whites to defeat my own people. However, that was the
mentality people had in those days, it was nothing serious.

Why did you not play for Anderlect though you went there for trials?

When I went to Anderlect, I would not say I was on trials because they know
what I can do. However, the tests they put me through were a laugh because I
had mastered that ages ago during my primary school days! It was all about
crossing the ball and to see how I could score. Later, we did the business on
the pitch and I was closely scrutinized. All the balls from my teammates were
passed to me to see how I could go about things. I must have played a blinder
for I was signed immediately after the match. However, what the contact
entails and what I was told was different. I disagreed because I was already
a professional. I cannot come from Seville in Spain and be placed in the
fourth team. That brought misunderstanding between myself and Anderlect and I
went back to Seville, upon their request.

I reckon it was at Seville you met Diego Maradona?

Yes but we didn't meet on the pitch. I had long left Seville, went to B1901
and came back home with Wallidan. However, certain people complained to OB
Conateh that I was too old and should retire. Adama Samba, Wallidan's manager
then, threatened to quit if I was made to retire. I chose to retire but I was
still selected for the national team. With Maradona, when he went to Seville,
he saw my name graced the football ground and that was fifteen years after I
had left Seville!

Infact, I have a fan club there. Maradona enquired if I was still alive and
was told yes. He asked the club to invite me so we could meet me.

A Spanish newspaper, Marca, sponsored the trip. At Seville, Maradona and I
behaved like long lost friends. We hugged and kissed. I then invited him to
come here. Everything was smoothly done because one of Seville's directors,
who cared for me most, was then the club's president. I came and informed the
local media about it.

Unfortunately, I lost my job the following week at the Ministry of Youth and
Sports. I was told there was no need for a sports coach. With the push and
pull that followed, I was paid my ten years service at the department and I
left.

You still possess the shirt Maradona gave you?

Yes, I still have it; it is the jersey he played with on that day. I had a
photo with the line up. Before the match, Maradona was stroking my legs and
rubbing his legs against mine. I told him in Spanish that he was making a
joke out of me! The world knows him while I'm only known in Spain. He replied
that he had heard of my feats in Spain and admitted that he could not do it
at Seville, though he could do it elsewhere. He told me it would be difficult
to forget that I once existed. After the match, he gave me his jersey and I
did not wash it.

However, my wife suggested that it should be washed. I do wear it at times,
normally during weekends.

Why did you prefer to see out your career at Wallidan?

Well, it was nothing special. I have played in two decades of club and
country football and I have never been a reserve. I believe I have done a lot
for Gambian football. There was a time I alighted from a plane only to
immediately board it again with the squad, who were off to Ghana. An air
ticket was bought for me on the spot. I could remember going to Accra with
only the clothes I was standing in! At night, I washed them only to wear them
in the morning. However, that was nothing special or amazing because I was
doing it for my beloved country, The Gambia.

During the twenty-four years you played for the Scorpions, how many coaches
molded you and which coach had an inspiration on your career?

Interesting question. Nobody coached me here, even in Europe! There was a
time I lectured B1901 about the away team visiting us. Boy Corr witnessed
that. Marley Joiner and Oussou Njie Senor met me in Spain and are enough
witnesses. If not, people will conclude I'm just boasting.

But, brother, the gift I possess in football, I'm not disputing nobody will
posses it but it won't come now. This is because I was complete. I could run,
I was powerful, an excellent dribbler, good controller, good header of the
ball and I could also pass at any given time. God's gift is different from
what had been instilled in you. Thus, nobody taught me anything new. The only
person I would praise is the one who discovered me at the former McCarthy
Square, (now July 22nd Square) the late Alhagie Ebou Conteh.

What was the best goal you scored?

I had scored a lot of breath-taking goals. However, I did a Maradona type,
when I dribbled past seven players against Senegal. That was in 1967 in
Dakar. I could remember putting the ball between the keeper's legs. After the
match, people were assuming I was a Brazilian! I was guarded throughout my
stay in Dakar.

Was it during the Zone Two tournament?

No, it was Festival Mondial and we were invited.

How did the nick name 'Biri-Biri' come about?

That came in 1965 during the Festival Mondial. Faye Faal was the commentator.
Gaira Lamin told him 'Biri' and he added another 'Biri' to it. It kicked off
from there and just spread. By the way, Gaira Lamin was my teammate at
national level.

President Jammeh has appointed you deputy Mayor of Banjul. Wouldn't a
sport-centred position be more laudable?

Yes, but everything lies in God's hands. President Jammeh brought me back to
the forefront because I had almost been forgotten. When he appointed me, I
laughed because I was pleasantly taken aback. He told me he meant it and I
accepted. I'm now interacting with people in a different capacity than
before. However, I still possess the soccer experience and I can read a match
as before. We must pray to God to further lengthen President Jammeh's stay
because where he wants to steer the ship of state, it is for the betterment
of us all. I'm not saying this because I'm with the APRC but because I
witnessed it. When Saint Clair Joof was politicking, it is still in my
memory. We both lived on Perseverance Street. Those who were here for
thirty-two years did practically nothing. Thus, let's pray to God to help
Jammeh carry the state lead and develop the country.

Would you like to coach the Scorpions?

No, that is not in my plans at the moment but I could advise. I was once a
coach and Alagie Sillah was my assistant. However, I spent only three months
on the job. Perhaps it was because our differences were enormous. In those
days, I was the only professional coach and I have done lots of coaching
courses. The late Ernest Happel, who took Holland to two consecutive World
Cup Finals, coached me for one year, among others. Miljan Miljani, former
coach of Real de Madrid, once said only Pele possesses the talent he saw in
me. That was after Seville and Madrid played a 1 - 1 draw and I scored.

You must have been devastated when Gambia failed to win the Zone Two
tournament on home soil in 1997?

Yes, I was but it was all down to luck. Perhaps, there was something found
wanting in the technical department. I'm not trying to criticize the
technicians at all. The support we had in 1997 was never present in any host
country. I know this because I played in the entire Zone Two tournaments
before I retired. Definitely, if we had won the Zone Two, it could not have
been good for us! It was destined to be that way.

What does your job as deputy mayor entail?

It consists of a lot of things. I sometimes represent the mayor at
conferences. For instance, I have attended two world conferences of Mayors. I
also do certain tasks for the mayor like I sign passports, birth certificates
for confirmation, amongst other things.

Could you chirp on Gambian football in your days and now?

Well, as for now, certain things are included which is a mystery to me.
However, the reason why our era was better than the present time is the will
to win. We want nothing short of victory to the extent that my opponent is my
enemy! I could remember I had a match against my own brother. Before the
match, he was being loud about it. He was playing for Benfica then, a
powerful team. On the pitch, people thought we weren't even brothers! This
was because it was business on the pitch and he would be my brother
afterwards. We thrashed them 4 - 1. In those days, I could weep bitterly when
I lose a match so I always make sure it is not repeated. As I said, it is
going to be difficult to find a player like me because the risks I took, no
player in this present generation would be ready to do it. I might be at par
with players on skills or something else but I would always outclass them in
other departments. Ebou Sillah is a good player but not powerful enough.

However, he is so humble that when he pulls on the Scorpion's jersey, that
air of haughty professionalism does not ooze out of him.

Is your love affair with football over?

(Laughs) It still exists because I watch football on TV and I sometimes go
and watch football at the stadium. However, I just cannot control myself out
there and so I prefer to stay at home! I remember as a Wallidan player, I
would not join in the celebration of a cup or league victory because the
mission has not been accomplished. I was the first black player to play in a
Danish cup final and I still possess the winner's medal. That was in 1973. I
have played with Eusibio, Louis Preria, Netsa, Cruyff, etc. In 1973, I was
the only player with a fan club, Cruff and others! If I could make a name
among such stars, brothers, I must have known something!

Who was your favourite player and why?

Pele has always been my star. It would be difficult for a player to match
him. Take it from me; Pele is miles ahead of Maradona, who was another
complete player. The difference between Pele and I is that he came from a
country where football is exposed.

If you had taken Gambia to the World Cup, could you have been a match for
Pele?

Ah that was the determination but it would be difficult to have been
actualized because there was not enough exposure for us to reach the World
Cup. We had individual players and a good side but not one to go all the way
to a World Cup final. To qualify is one thing, to go and do well is another.
Look at Zaire at the 1974 world cup. They were utterly humiliated! Yes, Pele
was crowned the world's best player but our intention was to match him and we
could have done so if we had had the means.

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