The campaign kick start with a mouth watering Noraan Final between Sera Deeema and Pan Jak better known as Old Hands over the weekend.
The match, which show cased a contrast of new and old skills, was characterised by beautiful ball possession skills and techniques producing one of the fastest goals ever scored in the Kitty Wembley Football field courtesy of Pan Jak’s Wuyeh Sanyang’s one minute goal netted in the 45th second of the game.
Sera Deeema were stunned by this early goal and surged forward to find an equalizer to come back to a game which they needed most to scoop the four thousand dalasi cash award for their preparation and fund raising dance for the Nawettan proper.
This onward launch forward, en mass, created space at their back for the more experienced old hands forward of Wuyeh Sanyang, skipper Nuha Sanneh, Karamba Sanyang and the ubiquitous Lamin Mansally, elder brother of New England Revelation striker Abdoulie Ken Mansally. Ten minutes into the game, Mansally perfectly fired in a second with a left footer from an earlier right footed ballistic volley which hit the wood work.
All hell broke loose as the whole pitch, which was in favour of the much fluid and fanciful young Sera Deema side, switched allegiance and rallied behind the veterans who earlier on predicted a two goal victory.
With the rowdy local ground commentary provided by the soldier turned sports commentator Sulayman Jarju, alias Ajarju assisted by sports enthusiast, Lamin Darboe of Faraba Banta admist an interlude of music to add spuice and colour to the game, Sera Deema’s versatile youngster, Omar Daffeh’s combination with Buba Janneh, Morro Gitteh, Lansana Gibba, Lamin Jatta and Momodou Lamin Daffeh earned them a round of applause from spectators whose support and loyalty could not be clearly determined as they seem to be with the side that did better at any point in time.
Pan Jak introduced fresh pairs of legs to consolidate their lead and avoid embarrassment for their early lead by resting Karamba Sanyang for Kalifa Sanyang better known as Branco and Besenty Gomez who came in as the 2nd half Captain for Nuha Sanneh.
This new introduction never denied the youngsters a goal from their beautiful football and the spectators justifying their coming to watch this final, as they eventually picked up a vital consolation with a wonderful left footed long range from striker Lamin Yaffa in the dying minutes of the game.
The consolation gave them more fire by rekindling their hopes that they could level during additional time but alas time was no longer on their side as minutes were turning to seconds.
In the end, Pan Jak went home with a cash amount of Four Thousand Dalasi, D4,000 as Champions while Sera Deema comforted themselves with D3,000 as runner up. Serra Dema’s Omar Daffeh earned himself a Man of The Match accolade for his brilliant performance.
Present on the day were the National Assembly Member for Kombo Central Abdou Jarju, Alkalo of Kitty, Boto Bojang as well as distinguished guests from the neighboring villages of Marakissa, Siffoe, Manduar, Darsalami, Kabakel, Kassa Kunda and Brikama.
By Bisenty Gomez, a Gambian sports writer
Source: gambiasports.gm