I have been on the phone moments ago to the Gambian team in Bouake.  I
spoke with Sidi Kinteh, Sang Ndong and ‘Parko’ and they all sounded
cheerful under the circumstances.  As you may be aware, they, together with
their counter-parts from Senegal, Sierra Leone are Cote D’Ivoire were
caught up in the military events of last week.

Their living conditions, although bearable for now, may deteriorate if they
are not extricated from Bouake. Presently there is enough food and drinking
water but basic amenities such as water to bathe are running low causing
the use of water from the swimming pool imaginatively.  It is obvious that
the longer they stay holed up in the Ran Hotel in Bouake the better the
chances of deterioration of their living conditions.

The primary concern of us all is their safety and the safety of all those
caught up in the madness – the innocent civilians in particular.
Currently, apart from sporadic shooting, presumably in the air, things are
calm around their hotel.  For the moment, they are out of harm’s way and we
hope that the GFA, in collaboration with the football fraternity and
National Governments, will do everything in their power to secure their
safe passage and those of their counterparts from Senegal and the region,
and soon.

Meanwhile, I will encourage G-L members to call and lift the sprits of the
boys.  They can be contacted at the RAN HOTEL Bouake, Tel (225) 31.63.20.16
and ask for the Gambian Team.


Sidi Sanneh

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