I am a strong believer in preserving the [liniage/legacy] of those who have contributed in our history - one way or another. I hope video archives of Biri in his professional years outside Gambia exist somewhere. I am interested in getting hold of some copies if anyone can help. Yus, thanks for sharing this with us. Maila Y C Jow wrote: > 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. > > <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>> > > To view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface > at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html > To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: > [log in to unmask] > > <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>> <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>> To view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>