Real de Banjul remains the bookmarker’s tip to defend their title, whenever they suffered a defeat, they were able to bounce back with immediate wins. Harts is winning hearts, remarkably finishing in second place in the first round, beating GAF, Bombada Utd, Marimoo, BST Galaxy, Real de Banjul, and Fortune. Hamadi Kebbeh joins the Alkamba Times to look at a few of the talking points, focusing on Brikama Utd, Team Rhino, and goal ratio.
Surprise package
Hart FC has a strategy in the first round from my observation. When playing at home, they are aggressive and attack a lot, targeting maximum points. When they play away, especially against the big guns, they usually sit back and wait; when they see an opportunity to press you, they do. When they play with teams that are on the same level with them, they attack them and collect all three points.
Best defense
Brikama Utd, to my surprise, have the best defense in the league. Looking at Brikama in the past two seasons, in 2023 they conceded 16 goals in the first round; last season they conceded almost 18 goals in the first round; this season, looking at their team, they have conceded four goals, which is the least in the league. This shows you how compact they are in the defensive front. They have a very dynamic group of young players that got each other’s back compared to last season when they had one of the oldest age categories.
Is Team Rhino losing the plot?
Do know that Team Rhino Football Club has lost more league matches (9) than any other team in the Gambia Football Federation first division league this season.
Looking at how Yunusa Badjie built Team Rhino over the years, the players are used to him his system and. The new players brought in haven’t adapted to the system of the new coach’s style of football and this count. The way Yunusa built Team Rhino was on a different level. The sale of their players, which was positive, has hindered their performance and position in the league.
Managerial sack race
Gambia Dutch Lions have been inconsistent in terms of results. Going up and down. I still believe that they will stay in the league. Gambian clubs are not familiar with taking decisions to sack coaches; however, the gaffer of the Gambia Armed Forces is at risk; he has consecutive defeats. Again, the head coach of Team Rhino is on the sack race; there is a mixed environment around the club, the way they are playing, and the results.
Misfiring strikers overtaken by ACM & Wingers
The current first division strikers have been competing in the league for quite a long time. Sainey Bojang, Dawda Darboe, and Ebrima Gaye, but none of the latter have 10 goals above. These are the strikers that we believed in because there are not many strikers in the country. I believed they should be the ones competing and topping the leading goal-scoring chart. To my surprise, wingers and attacking midfielders are the ones taking the charge.
