A pre-season tournament involving six GFA First Division clubs kicked off on Saturday at the Independence Stadium, Bakau.

The six sides which are mainly Bakau clubs, include Armed Forces, Steve Biko, Bakau United, Sait Matty, and the two newly promoted sides, Sea View and Ham Hama United. The six teams have been put into two groups of three, which saw Steve Biko, Sea View and Ham Ham paired in Group A, while Group B featured Armed Forces, Sait Matty and Bakau United.

In the opening match on Saturday, Steve Biko and Sea View went home, a point a piece after a fiery goalless draw. At time of going to press last night, Armed Forces were locking horns with Bakau United in their Group B fixture. The top two teams in each group, will proceed to semis stage.

Speaking to Observer Sports, on the objective of such tournament, Pa Suwareh Faye, Coordinator and Head coach of Sait Matty FC said: “The objective is to help the clubs in their team-building process, ahead of the 2007 league season. Currently some teams are training with more than thirty players so a competition like this will help coaches in their selection process.”

Pa Faye said they also want to use the tournament, as an opportunity to strengthen the mutual relations that exist between the clubs.

Fixtures

Date Team Venue

Mon 15-01-07 Ham Ham v Steve Biko Bakau Mini-stadium

Tue 16-01-07 Sait Matty v Bakau United Independence Stadium

Wed 17-01-07 Sea View v Ham Ham Independence Stadium

Thur 15-01-07 Armed Forces v Bakau United Bakau Mini-stadium