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President Barrow returns from a two day working visit to DRC

The President His Excellency Adam Barrow return's from Kinshasa the Democratic Republic of Congo, after a two working visit. President Barrow was received on arrival by the Ministers of Defense, the Interior and Service chief's. The Gambian Leader told GRTS at the Banjul International airport  that his visit the Democratic Republic of Congo was aimed at enhancing diplomatic and trade connection between the two countries. President Barrow underscored the need to strengthen and enhance diplomatic and trade ties with the Democratic Republic of Congo, noting the presence of a large number of Gambians in that country. Commenting on the steep rise in prices of basic commodities President Barrow said his government will continue to work closely with stakeholders in the sector to stabilize the situation. He used the opportunity to appeal to Gambian's to invest in Agriculture. He said his government has requisite policies and programs to transform the Agricultural sector thereby making it responsive to the food needs of the country. President Barrow also renewed commitments to expand and consolidate bilateral ties between Africa countries to advance trade, peace and development in the continent.Given the Gambia's geographic location, the President indicated that the countries could explore collaboration in aviation transport to make the country a hub in the aviation industry.  

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President Barrow meets Gambians in D.R Congo

The President H.E Adama Barrow has urged The Gambian community in the Democratic Republic of Congo to be united and be worthy ambassadors of their country. President Barrow met with the Gambian community in Kinshasha during his two day working visit. President Barrow thanked the community for the warm welcome accorded to him and urged them to be united and not forget their country of origin. Responding concerns over the difficulty in renewing Gambian documents, The Gambian leader disclosed that government will dispatch immigration officials to various embassies across the world to enable Gambians access Biometric passports.President Barrow informed them that The Gambia has made tremendous progress in the last five years particularly in the areas of infrastructure and energy. He said The Gambia is on course to meeting universal electricity access by 2025, five years ahead of the global target of 2030. He finally informed them that his visit to Congo will impact positively on relations between the two countries, and would benefit Gambians there. He also commended his host President Felix-Antoine Tshsikedi TSHILOMBO for warm hospitality, urging Gambians to be law-abiding and peaceful.The President of the Association of Gambians in the DRC Bouna Batchilly told  President Barrow that the Gambian community is engaged in diverse activities across the two Congos expressing delight in receiving him in Kinshasa. He thanked the President for opening his doors to the community. The Vice President of the association Lamin Barrow said the Gambian community has seen a marked improvement in their fortunes due to what he called the improved security situation in the Congo. The Secretary General of the Association Mustafa Jallow, appeal to government to simplify the process of renewing their passports. The President of the Women's Wing Siandi Bassi also appealed to the President to support the honorary Consul who she said was very helpful to the Gambian community despite the challenges. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Gambians abroad praised the Gambians in Congo for turning up under short notice to welcome the Gambian delegation. He assured government support to the honorary Consul who has been tireless in his responsibilities solely on voluntary basis.  

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IWD: WOMEN IN JOURNALISM

The role of women in journalism in The Gambia is crucial. Women bring a unique perspective to the profession and have been instrumental in exposing injustices and giving voice to the marginalized. As we celebrate International Women's Day, let us acknowledge the achievements of these brave women and continue to support their work. We must strive to create a safe and enabling environment for women journalists in The Gambia and ensure that their voices are heard.

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PRESIDENT BARROW LEAVES FOR NIGERIA TO ATTEND TINUBU’S INAUGURATION

PRESIDENT BARROW LEAVES FOR NIGERIA TO ATTEND TINUBU’S INAUGURATIONGambia’s President Adama Barrow on Sunday departed Banjul for Nigeria, where he is expected to attend the inauguration of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the president-elect of Nigeria. The president was seen off on departure at the Banjul international airport by cabinet ministers, senior security, and government officials among others. The Gambian leader is expected to join several other heads of state for the inauguration of Nigeria's president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Eagles Square in Abuja. During the visit, President Barrow is expected to engage in bilateral talks to further strengthen ties between Banjul and Abuja. The Gambian leader is expected to return to Banjul on Tuesday 30th May 2023.Having emerged victorious in Nigeria’s February Presidential Election, Senator Bola Tinubu of the APC party, will be sworn-in on May 29, 2023, as the president of the federal republic of Nigeria. Gambia and Nigeria share historic relations dating back to the post-independence era when the two countries established formal diplomatic relations. Since then, relations have been described as ‘excellent’ as the two countries partner in several areas of cooperation. Nigeria supports The Gambia in the areas of education, judiciary, security, and capacity building. Nigeria played a key role in ending the political impasse in the aftermath of the December 2016 Presidential elections and has since deployed a contingent to serve in peacekeeping operation in The Gambia.Over the years the two countries have worked to build a solid foundation to further entrench the existing bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

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GAMBIA RADIO

GAMBIA RADIO

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  • GRTS
  • October 3, 2022 03:10
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THE RACE FOR THE UNTHINKABLE: UPBEAT GAMBIA U20 POISED FOR GLOBAL HISTORY

The development of this Gambia U20 side has caught even the most ardent Gambian football fan by surprise. How the team has evolved from the WAFU Zone-A Championship in Mauritania to the AFCON in Egypt, finishing as runners-up on both occasions and now a dominant showing in the FIFA World Cup in Argentina, has left many wowed. Is it down to tactical maturity, technical genius, or sheer hunger to break into global football powerhouses? Those are questions for another day. In this one, we focus entirely on the race for the unthinkable, but not a race for the impossible – the Gambia’s attempt to clinch the U20 World Cup trophy. The Gambia once again shocked the world with their football prowess, as they finished as Group F winners ahead of current runners-up – Korea Republic and 2013 champions France, to reach the round of 16. The young scorpions matched their best-ever performance at this level when the Gambia made their first and only appearance in a U20 world cup tournament in 2007.   The Gambia will take on Uruguay on June 1st, 2023 in the round of 16. THE CONTINENT’S PRIDE! This unbeaten run of the Gambia U20 side in the 2023 FIFA World Cup is already a continental victory, as they became the only African side to gain an automatic qualification with two wins and a draw in the group stages. Nigeria with 6 points and Tunisia with 3, negotiated their way via the best third-placed team slots, while continental champions Senegal crashed out on a huff, disappointingly finishing bottom of Group C with two points. This is already a big disappointment for Senegal and will no doubt cut short the euphoria around their AFCON success. And so too the continent lost some pride as its champions failed to prove their worth where it mattered the most. As it appears, coach Abdoulie Bojang and his charges are the only continental representatives that have shown a performance far convincing that one can trust, and is quite capable of driving home some pride for the continent. And, Nigeria with their pedigree and history which saw them accumulate 6 out of the possible 9 points in the opening group stage, can’t be ruled out of anything. They are continental architects in playing this tournament. They appeared 12 times, and in the process, finished as runners-up in 1989 and 2005.  Tunisia’s performance is far from convincing. With a mere 3 points in the group stage, should they go beyond the round of 16, will surely be one of football’s biggest bonuses. This Gambia side has already set the bar high and they did not look like they are willing to lower it against any opposition. Given their recent form and performances at the group stage, they look potentially ready for any side. “We don’t look at names, what is crucial for us is we believe in what we can do,” Coach Bojang said. That statement is justified by the performance they showed at the group stages against France, Honduras, and the Korean Republic. Their performance at the group stages which they combined with verve, precision, and tactical discipline without an iota of panic, clearly sends a strong intent about their ambitions. This team is clearly up for the unthinkable, but not impossible mission. They are poised to make global history with the way they are realistically chasing the FIFA youth accolade at the same pace as some serial champions. TASK AHEAD Now that the Gambia has moved from a side tipped to be ‘heading home’ early, to potential title contenders, means, the task ahead can be a tough one. “The most important thing is our tactics and trying to be better than our opponents during the 90 minutes.” Lie Bojang said. And the task is, to apply that statement on the pitch when they face Uruguay, a side that is playing this tournament for the 15th time but has yet to clinch any title as they reached and lost the finals in 1997 and 2013. This could be considered a big achievement for a side like the Gambia who are only appearing for the second time. But, this crop of young dynamic players, seem to care less about reputation, and, the flair and depth of the Gambia’s squad are quite capable of causing an upset against any opposition. The return of Muhammed Jobe to the already-established Gambia U20 has taken the team to another level and the firepower of the unstoppable Adama Bojang could be a cause for concern for any defensive line.    Adama who scored two goals, is a candidate for the golden boot as he is two goals behind Italy’s Cesare Casadei who tops the chart with four goals. Can the Gambia set a new record by surpassing the round of 16 or even cause a global tsunami by reaching the finals? 

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FALCONS F.C ON COURSE TO CLINCH FIRST TITLE IN GFF LEAGUE

Falcons Football Club took a giant stride towards clinching their first-ever league title in the Gambia Football Federation Male Division One league after securing another impressive win in round 26 of the 2022/23 GFF division one league season.The Abuko-Wellingara-based club registered a vital two-nil win against the relegation-threatened PSV Wellingara side at the late Ousman Saho Football Field in Yundum.Bai Sonko and Buba Camara scored the goals that helped Falcons to open a five-point lead at the top of the league table in round 26.Falcons who are the most consistent side in the league this season just need three wins in their remaining four games to automatically clinch a historic title in their 2nd attempt since their promotion to the top tier in 2021.Considering their consistency and form, the Blue Army are on course for glory. Unless the league turns dramatic like the Premier League or Bundesliga, coach Lamin Sanneh and his Falcons are not showing any signs of becoming Arsenal or Dortmund, who surrendered the titles to second-placed sides after initially appearing to have it firmly within their grasp.  That though, is the day and night prayers of the second-placed Real De Banjul and some other teams chasing to topple Falcons at the summit. 

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SUPERIOR TANJI CLINCH KOMBO SOUTH DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP CROWN

Tanji Village football team are crowned champions of the 2023 Kombo South District football competition after showing a superior performance that earned them a 2 – 0 win over Berending Village in the final. The two faced off at the Sanyang football field in a tie expected to be a crunch encounter but ended up being a one-sided affair as Tanji showed a master-class performance that left Berending in bewilderment all through the evening. And goals from Dawda Kujabi and Abdoulie Dibba capped off what has been a great competition for the energetic and free-wheeling Tanjie side that merited what they got judging by the displays. The score was enough to earn Tanji the crown and the winner’s prize money of D45,000, while the disappointed Berending were handed a consolation of D35,000. SUPERIOR TANJI UNMATCHED At a jam-packed Sanyang arena, Tanji were simply unmatched both technically and tactically. They showed the difference in quality within the opening proceedings when they put Berending on the receiving end of constant pressure. That was coupled with a series of threats as Tanji came close and missed chances that really should have been goals for them. The closest came when Abdoulie Dibba effortlessly skipped inside two Berending defenders and rolled a shot wide with the goal at his mercy.  While Berending were trying to look for means to cope with the pressure, Tanji continued their high-pressing game and finally got the goal that initially appeared elusive, as Dawda Kijabi slotted home from close range for the breakthrough in the stoppages going into the break. That was an assailable score line and one would have expected Berending to return from the intervals with some purpose after the halftime team talks. They did not show any conviction, and Tanji continued to dominate. It did not take long for a second goal to duly arrive for Tanji. They launched an attack with quick exchanges that left Berending’s defence in confusion before their unstoppable Abdoulie Dibba made it two-nil in the 50th minute with a fine poke that beat the rushing Berending’s keeper. Berending had shown some glimpses of individual brilliance, but collectively, they could not find the means to contain a Tanji side that even deserved a far more convincing victory as they missed chances that should have made the score even more embarrassing. Tanji were technically and tactically too good for Berending who might consider themselves unlucky, but realistically, Tanji were simply irresistible in an evening meant to crown a new champion in Kombo South. Becoming a champion will require performing a little better than the defending champions, Tanji who knocked out the defending champions Gunjur in the semi-finals, are the new champions of Kombo South. If there was anywhere Berending truly dominated Tanji, was on the sideline, where their vocal supporters dressed in traditional attires with beads tied around their waist and across the chest, roared from start to finish. Should there be any award for the supporters, without doubt, Berending supporters with their melodious Jola songs and dancing, would have deservedly carried it home.  But their efforts were not complemented by their players who showed a lacklustre performance all through. 

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FALCONS TASTE FOOTBALL’S CRUELTY AS REAL DE BANJUL CLINCH GFF LEAGUE TITLE

Falcons have suffered the most heartbreaking moment in their history when they surrendered the top spot to Real De Banjul with a game to spare in the title race.Ultimately, they had their share of the cruelty of what is considered ‘a beautiful’ game as they lost the Gambia Football Federation Division One league title and one million dalasi winners' prize money to Real De Banjul on goal difference.Losing titles in football is painful, but losing them after initially appearing to have them firmly within your grips could be even more painful.The Abuko-Willingara-based club were on course, truly on course for glory. Since they got into the top two of the standings on match day eight, they never go below second place.By round 13, they mounted the summit and maintained the position for 15 consecutive games. In those games, they won 5, drew 6, and lost 4, making them the most consistent team.Falcons stretch their stay on top to round 29 which was the penultimate round of matches. At the moment, even if they stretch their hands, they will be able to slightly touch the title.But, their chase for a historic title, was handed a major blow by relegation-threatened Greater Tomorrow – a side fighting for their lives in the league who condemned them to a shocking 1 – 0 defeat.This was a moment Real De Banjul has desperately been praying for. Who will expect Willy Abraham and his team so desperate for the title not to take advantage!They defeated Banjul United 2 – 0 to finally toppled Falcons on top and opened a two-point gap going into the final round of matches. Even though Real drew 0 – 0 with Waa Banjul in the last games, but Falcons’ 4 – 2 win over Steve Biko was not enough to regain the top spot as Real were five goals superior on goal difference after both sides secured 52 points in 30 games.  To say football has ever been cruel to any team in the GFF League like this in the past decade or so, is open for debate.But, the manner in which Falcons who were just in their second season in the Gambia Football Federation Division One League and were on course to writing their own history, lost the title, is an agony that not many teams have faced.How they inexplicably lost the league in such a fashion is something many pundits can’t figure out. Perhaps, they were over-excited, and instead of thinking of getting the job done, they lost focus.  What initially appeared so closed has now turned so far. Falcons will have to try their luck again next season. But, they already have a task of persuading their long-term coach Lamin Sanneh who said he will leave the club at the end of the season, to stay.

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SK WEST BEAT BLUE NINJAS TO RETAIN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TITLE

Serrekunda West women's basketball team once again reigned supreme as they defeated Kotu Blue Ninjas to retain the Gambia Basketball Federation's knockout title.  West who triumphed over Blue Ninjas 53 - 50 in the first leg, completed a double over their opponents, beating them 61 - 58 to accomplish their dream and mission on Sunday evening.   West proved too strong in an evening meant for Blue Ninjas to tie the series and forced the game to a third set. But, the Kotu side could not make amends.  SK West started brightly and won the first set 17 - 14. That set the tone for what awaits Blue Ninjas in the remaining sets.  There was no balance of power in the second and third sets as West maintained their dominance, winning the second set 40 - 30 and the third set 57 - 44.  The gap seemed unassailable at that moment. But Blue Ninjas nearly produce a shocker as the outstanding Bintou Dambelly with her solo movements and amazing three-point throws and her teammates cut the gap to three points.  But, SK West’s energetic versatile player Alasana Senghore and the rest of her dynamic teammates stayed resolute to defend their three points lead and sealed a successful title defense. To West the glory, this was a truly deserved victory!

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RED SCORPIONS’ POWER AND PACE TOO HOT FOR FEMALE TEAMS AS THEY CLINCH BACK-TO-BACK TITLES

Red Scorpions have shown another great performance in a campaign that ended in great fashion for them as they clinched back-to-back titles in the Gambia Football Federation Women’s Division One League.The serial champions were just too strong and could not be struck from their stride, for yet, another season. And again, teams in the league appear to have no answers to coach Choro Mbenga’s side for the second season running as they completed a successful title defense.Even though they were already confirmed champions even before going into the last round of matches on Sunday evening. But the defending champions once again showed that they are not just title-winning conscious, but setting records that will keep their name as perhaps the greatest ever female team to ever compete in a GFF league.They failed to take their foot off the gas in their final game, even against struggling Abuko United.  As if that was the game to decide their fate, they ran out 3 – 0 winners. The league’s top scorer Kumba Kuyateh scored twice to take her tally to 20 goals and Fatou Bojang scored the other.A coronation was already waiting and it happened after the final whistle. As champions, Red Scorpions will receive five-hundred thousand dalasi. Second place Berewuleng will be handed two-hundred and fifty thousand dalasi and, third place Police Ladies one hundred and twenty-five thousand.In a ten-team league, Red Scorpions won 17 and drew one in the 18 games they played. They scored 51 goals and conceded just 8 which made them the team with the best attack and defence in the league. And, amassed 52 points altogether, 13 points clear from second place Berewuleng F.C.One might argue that the league is weak, this could be true. But it will be unfair to lose sight of the dedication and the organisation of this Red Scorpions side.If other institutional teams in the league cannot match Red Scorpions' achievement, then that is clear proof that Choro and her management have invested energy to sustain their growth this far.“11 league titles and a record 41 games unbeaten run”, is a milestone feat anywhere the world over. We can only congratulate them on their remarkable achievement. It was deserved. This was truly the right complement to the energy they invested throughout the campaign. It was worth it after all!

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CAF HEAD OF PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PRE-INSPECTS GAMBIA'S STADIUM REMODELLING PROJECT

At the invitation of the Gambia government, Muhammad Sidat, the Confederation of African Football head of professional football, carried out a preliminary assessment of the ongoing works at the Independence stadium.The CAF professor was invited for expert inspection and recommendation as the Gambia raced against time for the hosting of their final AFCON qualifiers against Congo in September.'We requested that they come so that they can look at what we have done so far. In the event there is anything that we need to improve on, they can advise us, after which we will ensure that is done before they come for the final inspection.’‘So that by the time they come for the final inspection, we would have gotten almost everything 100%.’ Marcel Mendy, the Executive Director of the National Sports Council, said.The CAF's head of professional football was escorted by local stakeholders from the Sports Ministry, Gambia Football Federation, and the contractors to different parts of the stadium for a professional assessment.After over a three-hour walk through key areas of the interior and the exterior of the stadium, the inspector said there has been progress, but some adjustments are needed.‘There were matters in relation to the accessibility of the players and media. We wanted to ensure all these points were taken care of.’‘In modern stadiums, we need to ensure that players, media, fans, and VIPs have their own entrance and exit, so there is no clash. This was one of the remarks we were trying to find alternative solutions to.’ Muhammad said.The expert further said the environment around the stadium is crucial for safety. ‘We understand that there are still works going on, but ensuring access, the gates, and external perimeter all of these areas has to be completed and right to the best standards possible.’He recommended another fence [perimeter] to be built around the pavilion before the next assessment.As per CAF’s requirement, stadiums are assessed two or three months before the match day. Sidat said a circular will be sent to GFF in the coming weeks when CAF will provide a timeline for GFF to send their preferred venue for the Gambia’s next game.The inspector said that by the beginning of August, all venues for the CAF final round of AFCON qualifiers must be confirmed.‘It is a tight timeline, but I have received assurances from all the authorities that they are working day and night to meet all of the final works. So let’s hope that happens.This means a tough race against time for the contractors. It remains to be seen if the Gambia will host their final round of AFCON qualifiers against Congo at this stadium, what is certain now, is the acceleration of work round the clock for contractors who will be hoping to meet the deadline. 

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