By: Bubacarr Fallaboweh
The Gambia has been drawn against Finland in the Men Beach Volleyball Tour qualifiers in Satun, Thailand. The Gambia will first lock horns with Finland. A win will take them to a playoff spot.
Sainey Jawo will be partnering with Pa Alieu Njie in the Gambian team.
Njie came to the senior national team in January 2023 and was among the squad which won the Zone II tour in Guinea-Bissau.
The Al Shamal player and Sainey came out fourth in the Qatar Beach Volleyball League. Furthermore, the duo, Moroccan team player Olympian Abicha and Qatari national team player Muhamed Ihab won the Katara Ramadan Open Championship, which was four against 4.
Njie told the Alkamba Sports desk that he is looking forward to the tour and what it means to play for the Gambia.
“Sainey is pushing me very hard as my team captain and partner. He is helping me on and off the pitch. I know this is my first world tour, and I am well prepared for this tour to go there and represent the Gambia,” he said.
“It’s not only playing for your country; one should raise the flag higher. That’s our intention. ”
“Each athlete wants to play for their country, and to play for the Gambia is a big honor for me. Will work hard to reach the level I want to reach and raise the flag higher.”
This is the 10th tour Sainey has attended under the leadership of GNOC & the Gambia Beach Volleyball Federation.
The Gambia is the only few African country attending world tours. Sainey, the captain, told Alkamba Times it’s imperative to participate in world tours.
“Yes, it’s crucial because we have less competition to attend in Africa, so attending world tours will help us improve our level and also help us in the world ranking.”
“Because the Gambia qualified for the past Birmingham Commonwealth games due to world ranking dispute, we won the qualifications of the Commonwealth games in Africa,” Sainey concluded.
The duo will return for national team duties in June at the African beach games in Tunisia (20-28th June). However, the zonal qualifiers for Olympic month have yet to be scheduled.
