Foreign-Based Players Threaten Squad Boycott

http://allafrica.com/stories/200306130012.html

The Independent (Banjul)
NEWS
June 13, 2003
Posted to the web June 13, 2003
Banjul

The Gambia's foreign-based players, who took part in Saturday's African
Nations Cup qualifier against the "Lions" of Senegal, have threatened to
boycott national duties in the future if The Gambia Football Association
(GFA) fails to improve their condition and give them more consideration and
respect.

Speaking on West Coast Radio, Scorpions captain, Jatto Ceesay who missed
Saturday's crucial match said in no uncertain terms that his participation
in the squad's next outing is in doubt as long as the country's football
governing body overlooks the need to improve conditions of members of the
squad.

Jatto said that during their game in Dakar, the GFA obstinately refused to
provide tickets for players who were not part of the team and thought that
such a situation was uncalled for.

He said that as a professional player who made a pivotal contribution to
the stalemate of the Gambia-Senegal clash in Banjul, he was standing behind
the perimeter fence of the Leopold Sedat Senghore stadium where he was at
the mercy of Senegalese security forces and fans who threw stones at him
after he was recognised for who he was.

"My life was in danger during the entire 90 minutes" claimed Jatto who
demanded that Gambian players especially those coming from abroad to answer
to the nation's call should be accorded more respect and attention by the
GFA.

Jatto said that the GFA cares about players only when a crucial match was
at hand and cares less about them when it is all over.

"Unless we are treated as professional players, we will not come to play
for the Scorpion" said the disappointed Willem II midfielder.

"It is unbelievable that GFA can't provide five V.I.P tickets for players
who were not selected to play that day" Jatto Ceesay complained.

Ebou Sillah, who wore the team's armband in Dakar following Jatto's
suspension also complained about the attitude of the GFA president Gabbi
Sosseh who never visited the players' camp after the match to ascertain
whether they were secured. Sillah said Mr. Sosseh was nowhere near their
area despite the fact that an official car from the Senegalese FA and
security were at his disposal.

Ebou Sillah said that before, during and after the troubled game in Dakar
Mr. Sosseh was nowhere to be found.

That complaint from Ebou Sillah was countered by the treasurer of the GFA
Dodou Gaye, who explained that Mr. Sosseh was not part of the Gambian
delegation to Dakar, an argument that did not go well with football fans,
who questioned why Mr. Sosseh did not visit the team when everybody knew
that he was in Dakar. They said at no time was his visit to the players
more important than during Saturday's charged post-match atmosphere.

Momar Njie, another professional player in Austria, said that while in
Dakar, they were made to sit on the bare floor of the dressing room because
there were no chairs. He said GFA officials should have complained to the
match Commissioner and to the Senegalese FA. He also questioned what the
GFA was doing to honestly promote and develop football in The Gambia.

He made heads to turn when he revealed that when the U-17 was about to go
to Swaziland for the CAF championships, the team was without the requisite
sports wear, prompting him and his brother Abdou Njie to negotiate with
Jako, a company in Germany for the acquisition of sports wears for the
team.

Other players like Kemo Ceesay and Abdou Njie shared the same views.



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