BY: Media Officer Foday Jatta

Real de Banjul gaffer Bye Malleh Wadda says he’s encouraged by his side’s performance despite collecting just a point against Banjul United in his first game in charge at the Independence Stadium in Bakau on Friday evening.

Byes worked with the City Boys’ squad for less than ten days before his second tenure got underway on Friday.

The legendary gaffer did not start his second stint with the Whites the way he would have fancied with a 0-0 draw but sure did take some positives from it.

Bye Malleh said: “It was encouraging. I think it was entertaining and a nice game. So, I feel we have a lot of work to do but I was encouraged in the sense that we held the ball and we performed; the players trying to do what I instructed them so that is encouraging for me, even though we were unfortunate not to win the game”.

Despite seeing Fortune FC stretch the lead at the top to nine points on the same night, the gaffer remains positive about his side’s chances.

“It just makes it a little bit more difficult (the draw against Banjul United), but again I’m always up for the challenge, and I’m sure people will see improvement, the team will improve as we progress. What they (players) did today was encouraging for me, and I look forward to us playing better”.

The 12-time league champions went into the game with a couple of key players out, a misfortune that forced the Head Coach to play his young midfielder Foday Darboe to pair with Modou Manneh at the back. Center backs Gregory Sambou was suspended, David Sambou was out injured, and Essa Jallow was in the team but not quite okay to start. Key forwards like Gambia U-20 captain Kajally Drammeh returned from a thigh injury but started on the bench, with striker Babucarr Jallow also out injured.

Missing most of his players, the gaffer feels he has a pool of players to win him games. “I’m encouraged with what I am seeing and even with the injuries, we have a strong squad that we can beat any team in this league and moving forward, I think we will be beating a lot of teams”.

A lot is expected from the legendary coach after his re-appointment and as the club craves to return to its glory days, the legend promised that the side will return back to the top.

“I am a winner, I like winning and I’m sure we are going to be winning a lot of games. We will challenge the league and any other trophy there is on offer. I will prepare the players physically, mentally, and psychologically to win matches”.

The City Boys’ draw against Banjul United ends their first round action in the GFF First Division League.

Bye Malleh and his charges will start the second round of the season with a clash against the Telecommunication Boys, Gamtel FC, on the 1st of May at the Independence Stadium at 10:30pm.