As They Suffer a 2-nil Defeat in First Encounter

ThGambia National Under 17 team that left Banjul to take part in a 3-week intensive training camp in the United Kingdom four days ago began their warm up game with a 2-0 defeat to the United States U-17 side, that is also preparing for the much anticipated world cup in Nigeria next month.  This was confirmed to Pointsport yesterday by Seedy M.B Kinteh, GFA’s President.

There has being constant speculation surrounding the two times African champions possibility of making an impact in the upcoming U-17 world cup following the exclusion of 11 players from the team that helped the darling U-17 team clinched their second African U-17 championship title in Algeria recently.

But the GFA Supremo has moved to pour cool water on the persistent speculation that the team wouldn’t leave up to the expectation. He added that people should remember that when the GFA presented the U-17 team that won the African U-17 championship title for the Gambians, a lot had been said about them, but they have proven their worth and went ahead to make every Gambians proud.

Mr. Kinteh, who was speaking to our reporter in this interview at his office in Kanifing yesterday, further told Pointsport that the GFA has also provided coaching staff, in the persons of Pa Suwareh Faye and senior national team coach, the famous Paul Put, whose intervention he posited would no doubt help push the team in their quest to achieve glory.

“Paul and the GFA protocol officer were sent by the FA to Dakar in order to watch the game between Senegal and Iran so as to be able to have a knowledge about the Gambia’s group mate in the U-17 World Cup,” Seedy was quoted as saying.

The GFA boss, who remained optimistic of the U-17 team’s possibility of achieving great results in Nigeria, further revealed that negotiations are at an advance stage in order to convince Joshua King to play for the Gambia in the forthcoming world cup.

The Norwagian-born youngster, Joshua King, who made his much anticipated first debut for the Premiership champions, Manchester United, in the Carling Cup game, will decide weather to commit his future to the Gambia when he meets his father who is trying to convince him to feature for the two times African champions.

The team is expected to make their second debut against either the American team that defeated them or Chelsea Academy today, before locking horns with Reading Academy on Monday.