By: Baboucarr Fallaboweh
The Gambia GFF, Baluwo Division One, is set to return this Weekend with Hawks FC facing off Wallidan at the KG5 mini stadium on Saturday for the curtain raiser.
The league starts on Sunday, and the draft fixtures, sent to clubs for cross-checking, pitted Psv v Steve Biko and Greater Tomorrow v Samger. After that, the hawks will start to defend their title against Marimoo FC.
Alieu Jagne, who has been at the helm of affairs for the defending champions, reacted to the 2023/24 season preparation :
“We prepared for the season, especially the Super cup, because our games against Wallidan are continually significant. For the league, if we have the chance again, we will defend it. It’s going to be tough, everyone will be ready for us, and every game will be like a final because they will play with the champions,” Coach told Alkamba Times Sports.
“For recruitment, Redhawks is our backbone; we consider there first; if we don’t have the material we want, that’s when we look outside. So we recruited a few players and brought in two players to adjust our gap.”
Brikama Utd, Steve Biko, and Real De Banjul will use their home ground for their opener. Brikama Utd v Team Rhino (BoxBar), Real De Banjul v Greater Tomorrow (Basori) & Steve Biko v Brikama Utd(Bakau mini stadium).
Brikama United gaffer Modou Lamin Nyassi reacted to Brikama Utd’s return to Boxbar after two years of absence.
“For over two years, we haven’t played in Box Bar. Last year some teams played there but weren’t fortunate. This is going to be our first game; the preparation is in high gear; we are ready to make sure we stamp the authority and get good results in Brikama,” Nyassi said.
Real De Banjul is tipped as one of the title contenders, and coach Slava Zahovaiko said they will go all out for the trophy.
“With a foreign coach, it is a natural target. We want to fight for the title as well. My main goal is to help build a competitive training process.”
Appointed in October, the gaffer told the TAT sports desk that he is ready to excel.
“It’s a new environment for me, and I’ve settled in nicely now. The club and colleagues have helped me in this.”
“Our preparation has lasted longer than usual. Three months is long, and everyone is hungry for the game. The team has been working hard, and everyone is enthusiastic. We were able to use a lot of different players in the training games. I liked the performance of the team against the Senegalese Casa Sport team.
The game’s dynamics were good, and this kind of dynamics awaits us in the league. But, unfortunately, I need to find out about the opponents because we mostly played with lower-league teams. So I’m looking forward to the start of the league with great interest.”
” We have placed great emphasis on the development of physical abilities. Now that the league is about to start, we will focus more on tactical aspects,” Slava added.
