Scorpions skipper, Ebou Sillah, has told Observer Sports that he and his team-mates will do their best on the pitch and leave the rest to God when Gambia take on Liberia in the Group Six opener of the 2010 World Cup and Nations Cup qualifier on Sunday.

Gambia’s 18-man squad led by the new coach Belgian Put Put left Banjul this morning for Monrovia amidst high optimism, and according to the Holland’s MVV (Maastrichtse Voetbal Vereniging)  winger, Gambian fans should expect anything from the match.

“It’s football and anything can happen. We are going there to raise our flag high and we hope that we return home with something to boast up with,” he said.

Captaincy

Though this is not the first that the former Real de Banjul FC, Blankenberge,  Club Brugge K.V., Harelbeke, Roosendaal, FC Brussels, and Hapoel Petah Tikva FC star will captain the Scorpions, Sillah is however, delighted that the new coach has extended the arm ban to him.

“This is not the first time to be the captain of The Gambia. However, I am happy to be the given the captaincy again. It is a great responsibility, but equally, it’s a big honour for me.”

On the state of Gambia’s preparedness, Sillah said his team-mates are well focused ahead of the encounter. “The boys are well prepared for the game. We are lucky to have a team that have lot of young players who are talented, discipline and eager to deliver. I can see it from the training ground that they always want to give it their best.”

Derby match

While Sillah is currently concentrating on the Liberia tie, he is still having his one eye on other coming fixtures, more specially, the home tie against Senegal which will come just six days after the Liberia match.

I don’t know of Liberia but with Senegal, it is always a derby match simple because we speak almost the same language and share the same culture. So that game is going to be very tough. There also exists a bit rivalry between us and Algeria because last year, we went there and lost, and when they came here we beat them. So we should not take anything for granted knowing fully that they will be better prepared for us.

New coach

When asked about his impression about the appointment of Belgian Paul Put as Scorpions coach, Sillah has this to say: “I have met Paul Put before, then I was in Belgium. He has never been my coach then, but I had played against his team in Belgium. And I know that the team he was managing were very successful.”

“Now I started working with him here in the Gambia, and I am very impressed with what I have seen so far. He is doing a great job for the team and I trust him.”

“It’s not easy for him - having only a week to prepare a team for such a crucial campaign. But he is doing his best to put the team on the right track.”

“We have played few warm up matches, and this has given him (coach) the opportunity to acquaint himself with the players. He has also told us what he wants us to do, and we will strive to ensure that our  our dreams are realised.”