Real de Banjul beat Gambia Ports Authority to reach the semifinals of the FF Cup as they aim for domestic double.
Real de Banjul has four crucial matches left in the GFF first division league. Their next two games are at home against Falcons and Fortune before taking on Brikama Utd. They will wrap up with a home game against Team Rhino at Basori.
However, both Fortune and Falcons have a game in hand and are eight points behind Real de Banjul.
Real reached the semifinals following their 1-0 victory over GPA thanks to Ebou Nene Gassama’s goal. Lamin Saidy put in another man-of-the-match performance with a solid performance.
Neneh, now has three goals in all competitions. He scored the winner against TMT before firing Real de Banjul to the semifinals and bringing them close to the double. The Serekunda-born spoke to the Alkamba Times desk about his exploits.
“I am happy with my form; I am thrilled to be helping my team by scoring in crucial matches. Real de Banjul is always competitive; any player that wants to play must be in very good shape. It fills me with joy to score in two consecutive matches.”
“It’s a culture to win trophies, and it’s very important for Real de Banjul to win silverware. It will be my second league title. However, it’s football; what we want is to win every game so that we can be crowned champions.”
He also commented on his goal against GPA as he deemed it as very essential.
“The goal against GPA is very important; the goal is a team tactic, something that we have trained on several occasions. It’s a trademark goal of Real de Banjul.”
Last year’s finalist TMT edged Wallidan on penalties to set a mouthwatering tie against Hawks, while Greater Tomorrow edged Unique Global (3-1 on penalties) following a 0-0 draw at the end of regular time.
Alkamba Times spoke to both managers as TMT returned to the semifinals for a second time. TMT is 10th on the log with 28 points, and Greater Tomorrow is in 14th position, currently sitting on the relegation playoff.
“We are not in a safe place by looking at the standing of the league. Every game is a final for us in the league until we achieve safety. We are focusing 100% on the FF Cup. We want to reach the finals; that’s our target. In the league, we want to push and finish in the top seven or top five. We are in the 10th position, but still, we are not safe.”
” The players know our target. We have spoken about it. We prepared really well; we knew with Wallidan pedigree and their history in the competition it wouldn’t be an easy game. We gave them the respect they deserved. We wanted to win with a dominant scoreline, but we ended up losing lots of clear opportunities, and they went on to punish us in the 87th minute with an equalizer.” Alieu Colley, the coach of TMT emphasized
Greater Tomorrow coach Mankajang
“If any team that will take this FF Cup seriously, it is Greater Tomorrow, simply because by looking at the standing of our table, it is not great. I believe we have to go all out for this FF Cup. The win has boosted the morale of the players and the team. It’s a perfect psyche for our game against Team Rhino. Cup football is different from league competition. One can have a bad run in the league but have a good run in the league cup.
We are preparing 100% for this FF Cup; we believe this FF Cup can turn our season around. We are very committed to this FF Cup, and we want to play the finals.”
Semi-Finals Tie
Real De Banjul vs. Greater Tomorrow
Hawks FC vs. TMT
