13 January 2010
GUNJUR NAWETTAN REACHES FINAL
Oxford Football Club on Saturday 9th January 2009 took to the pitch against Nyokoyorr Football Club in the final of Gunjur Village 2009-2010 football championship.
Oxford Football Club dominated the early exchanges, controlling a greater chunk of ball possession and playing deep into their opponents' half, which paid off in the 17th minute of the game when their in-form striker Foday Joof got on the end of a pass in the penalty box and made no mistake in front of the goal. The goal stopper for Nyokoyorr was sent the wrong way and the crowd numbering in thousands roared in celebration.
Nyokoyorr nearly rendered the celebrations premature when their youngster Yusupha Barrow made a stinging shot on goal in the 23rd minute, but the goal-stopper palmed it off. A number of other close chances followed for both teams but none was converted into goals and the first half ended with a 1-0 cushion for Oxford United.
Nyokoyorr continued to pile pressure on their opponents on the resumption of play in the second half with a number of creative passes in the mid-field going down the flanks, but the Oxford goal stopper was at his best until the 58th minute when a Sheriff Bojang strike restored parity and their fans who had been quiet started beating drums, singing and dancing.
The match had to be decided by the lottery of a penalty shoot-out as ninety minutes of regular play ended in a 1-1 stalemate. Oxford Football Club emerged victorious with five goals in the shoot-out as opposed to four by their opponents who missed one of their chances. The winners were given a giant trophy and a cash prize of fifteen thousand Dalasis (D15,000) whilst the runners-up received a trophy with ten thousand Dalasis (D10,000) as consolation.
Nyokoyorr striker Yusupha Barrow and Mommodou Clerk Bajo were each given a trophy and a cash prize of two hundred and fifty Dalasis for being the leading goal scorer and best player respectively.
Meanwhile Bubanding Bajo and Lamin Fish Touray, both members of Gunjur Youths and Sports Development Association(GYSDA), were also awarded trophies in recognition of their contribution to the Development of Sports in Gunjur Village.
Oxford Football Club dominated the early exchanges, controlling a greater chunk of ball possession and playing deep into their opponents' half, which paid off in the 17th minute of the game when their in-form striker Foday Joof got on the end of a pass in the penalty box and made no mistake in front of the goal. The goal stopper for Nyokoyorr was sent the wrong way and the crowd numbering in thousands roared in celebration.
Nyokoyorr nearly rendered the celebrations premature when their youngster Yusupha Barrow made a stinging shot on goal in the 23rd minute, but the goal-stopper palmed it off. A number of other close chances followed for both teams but none was converted into goals and the first half ended with a 1-0 cushion for Oxford United.
Nyokoyorr continued to pile pressure on their opponents on the resumption of play in the second half with a number of creative passes in the mid-field going down the flanks, but the Oxford goal stopper was at his best until the 58th minute when a Sheriff Bojang strike restored parity and their fans who had been quiet started beating drums, singing and dancing.
The match had to be decided by the lottery of a penalty shoot-out as ninety minutes of regular play ended in a 1-1 stalemate. Oxford Football Club emerged victorious with five goals in the shoot-out as opposed to four by their opponents who missed one of their chances. The winners were given a giant trophy and a cash prize of fifteen thousand Dalasis (D15,000) whilst the runners-up received a trophy with ten thousand Dalasis (D10,000) as consolation.
Nyokoyorr striker Yusupha Barrow and Mommodou Clerk Bajo were each given a trophy and a cash prize of two hundred and fifty Dalasis for being the leading goal scorer and best player respectively.
Meanwhile Bubanding Bajo and Lamin Fish Touray, both members of Gunjur Youths and Sports Development Association(GYSDA), were also awarded trophies in recognition of their contribution to the Development of Sports in Gunjur Village.
04 January 2010
GUNJUR-MARLBOROUGH LINK SET TO GROW FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGHTH
Marlborough lies thousand of miles away from the Coasal village of Gunjur in The Gambia, but relations between the two towns could not have been closer since the inception of their link in 1982. The link is set to grow from strengh to strength if the words of the Head of women Gnansimba Mai Kebbeh and Alkalo Sulayman Touray who recently made a three-week visit to Marlborough are anything to go by.
Speaking to a gathering in the village square, The head of women Mai Kebbeh stated that they discussed a whole lot of issues affecting women in the Village with their Marlborough hosts, with a view to coming up with possible solutions.
"I pointed out the need for more milling machines in the village, which will help us a lot because the ones we have are not enough granted the level of demand. To this end, they have promisd to give us ten milling machines", she uttered to a wild cheer from the crowd.
She also stated that their hosts reiterated commitment to sponsoring the women's garden, which serves as a source of income for a lot of women who grow vegetables there and use it to pay their children's school fees.
For his part Alkalo Sulayman Touray revealed that the skills centre being built with funding from Marlborough will be supported to help young people in acquisition of skills. He added that they also had a meeting with Gunjur immigrants in the United Kingdom whom he advised to cherish the image of their village and Country by being honest and law-abiding.
"I also made it clear to them that their village and Country needs their in-put in our strive for Development and attainment of our collective goals", he said.
He finally concluded that the exchange visit between the two communities will continue despite recent challenges, which he fell short of mentioning, and thanked the villagers for their warm welcome.
The Gunjur-Marlborough link has come under strain when only four out of twelve people who went to the United Kingdom on an exchange visit returned, with the rest absconding. However, the visit to Marlborough by the two leaders in the Gunjur community is seen as an immense step to improve relations.
Link to Marlborough Brandt Group website
Speaking to a gathering in the village square, The head of women Mai Kebbeh stated that they discussed a whole lot of issues affecting women in the Village with their Marlborough hosts, with a view to coming up with possible solutions.
"I pointed out the need for more milling machines in the village, which will help us a lot because the ones we have are not enough granted the level of demand. To this end, they have promisd to give us ten milling machines", she uttered to a wild cheer from the crowd.
She also stated that their hosts reiterated commitment to sponsoring the women's garden, which serves as a source of income for a lot of women who grow vegetables there and use it to pay their children's school fees.
For his part Alkalo Sulayman Touray revealed that the skills centre being built with funding from Marlborough will be supported to help young people in acquisition of skills. He added that they also had a meeting with Gunjur immigrants in the United Kingdom whom he advised to cherish the image of their village and Country by being honest and law-abiding.
"I also made it clear to them that their village and Country needs their in-put in our strive for Development and attainment of our collective goals", he said.
He finally concluded that the exchange visit between the two communities will continue despite recent challenges, which he fell short of mentioning, and thanked the villagers for their warm welcome.
The Gunjur-Marlborough link has come under strain when only four out of twelve people who went to the United Kingdom on an exchange visit returned, with the rest absconding. However, the visit to Marlborough by the two leaders in the Gunjur community is seen as an immense step to improve relations.
Link to Marlborough Brandt Group website
