Alhaji Ousman B Conateh, better known as OB Conateh has poured praises on the Gambia U-20 team for what he described as their “brilliant display” in the on-going FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in Canada.

The Honourary Life President of The Gambia Football Association said despite the team’s elimination at the second round stages, their heroic performance should not go unnoticed, thus he called on all Gambians to give the team a hero’s welcome when they return to Banjul later this week.

He exclusively told Observer Sports that the team’s performance has impressed all and sundry despite being debutants.
We have a good team with a bright future and this was manifested in the their performance as first-timers.” he said.

Preparation
On the preparation of the team, the First Vice President of West African Football Union (WAFU) said: “This boys have been preparing since they returned from Congo Brazzaville in February. The team was also in Korea for a four-team tournament before hosting Ivory Coast in Banjul for an international friendly. In addition, the team had friendly games with our top local clubs and all these undisputedly served as good preparation for the team ahead of the Canada championships.”

“We should not confuse good preparation with going to outside. Going to Europe cannot necessarily translate into good preparation. You can go to England but you may not play with big clubs like Manchester United or Liver Pool. Instead you may play with lower clubs that are even below your standard. We have to appreciate the level of preparation the team had prior to the competition”.

Motivation
In the area of motivation, the Honourary Life President of The Gambia Football Association said: “The boys were highly motivated. Our President, Dr Aljhai Yahya Jammeh gave US$ 5000 (equivalent to one hundred and thirty-five thousand dalasis) to each of the players before their departure. So what more can be done.
Both the private and public sector also chipped in their quota just to boost up the team’s morale and fairly enough, the team have responded to the staunch support by giving an honourable display during the championships.”

Frantic efforts
Conateh, a former national cricketer and founding father of Wallidan Football Club, has poured encomiums on the present executive of The Gambia Football Association and Department of Sate for Youth, Sports & Religious Affairs for the enumerated string of current successes recorded in Gambian football.

“The huge strides made by the various National teams should convince Gambians that Seedy Kinteh and his executive are doing well. Young as he may be, Seedy Kinteh has good intention for Gambian football and he has committed people around him. They are very much determined and are giving us what we want. So their frantic effort should be acknowledged.

The league season
Commenting on the just concluded First Division league season, Conateh said the photo-finish decider in the league season has manifested that this year’s title was well fought for. He heaped praises on the national football governing body for organising the league in such an appealing and an organised manner. He also congratulated the referees, enthusiastic fans, clubs and the league champions in particular, for what he described as their “effective participation” that has eventually signalled a potential growth in Gambian football.

“We have had a very competitive league season and we hope to witness similar trend come next season.”

Way forward
As Gambia ended their great adventure in Canada Championships, Conateh believes maintaining the current Under 20 team can be a better price for a glory come 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
“I have always believed that this Under 20 can be the nucleus of the Gambian team in 2010. We should blend them with some players at the senior level for the 2010 World Cup. These are crop of players who have been together for a long time and if that cohesiveness is maintained they will be the National team that will bring glory into the country.”

“I am not undermining the present senior team who has done enough to delight hearts. We have seen them fetched positive results in their last outings.”

Conateh also joined other pundits to denounced the act of hooliganism in Gambian sports. According to him, hooliganism is new to the Gambians and it should not be given any chance to survive. “We don’t know it (hooliganism) and it has to go,” he fumed.