I tried to send this from the BBC Website, but for some reason, it did not
come through. But, I am QUITE elated. Good job Gambia!!!
Awa Sey
Gambians celebrate shock win
By Lamin Cham
BBC Sport, Banjul
I cannot believe this is happening - I have always waited for the day
Gambia would beat Brazil
Alhaji 'Biri Biri' Momodu Njie
Thousands of Gambians poured into the streets of Banjul and surrounding
towns late on Saturday night in celebration of the country's victory over Brazil
at Fifa's Under-17 World Championship.
The Baby Scorpions stunned the football world by beating the tournament
favourites 3-1 in Piura in the West African nation's first ever match on the
global stage.
Cars thronged major roads leading from the capital to Serrekunda, the largest
town in the country, tooting horns as young men and women beat drums until
the small hours of Sunday morning.
Fireworks littered the sky as flocks of fans took to the streets singing the
praises of the Baby Scorpions.
"I cannot believe this is happening," Alhaji Momodu Njie, Gambia's most
celebrated footballer, told BBC Sport.
"I have always waited for the day Gambia would beat Brazil.
"Al-hamdulilahi, it has come in my life time," said the man popularly known
as Biri Biri.
Elsewhere in the Gambia, people turned out across towns and villages in their
thousands to greet the Baby Scorpions' unprecedented football triumph with
long-distance walking and drumming.
In Brikama, jubilant crowds defied heavy rains as they paraded their
celebrations in the streets.
"Our boys have now come of age - this team is heading for greater things,"
said Pa Faye, coach of local league side Pa Faye and a former coach of the Baby
Scorpions.
Most of the fans expressed great joy even though they were surprised that
Gambia beat Brazil, and the victory is viewed as critical for the team's
confidence and chances of progressing in the competition.
"Now we can be sure of a good tournament," ventured Biri Biri, one of 200
Gambians waiting to be flown out to Peru to support the country's footballers in
the remainder of the matches.
Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/africa/4258096.stm
Published: 2005/09/18 13:59:10 GMT
© BBC MMV
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