Head Coach Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko says his boys earned a good point after playing a goalless draw against Falcons FC on Wednesday evening. “We had some ideas to win the game but I have to admit that it was really a difficult game for us because the opponent was really good,” Zahovaiko said during the post-match interview at the Late Ousman Saho Football Field in Yundum. The City Boys were unable to create enough good openings against a defensively organised Falcons FC as in the previous fixtures and ‘Slava’ said that is part of reasons his side couldn’t collect the maximum points. He added: “Actually I liked the game, it was really dynamic in both halves with a lot of fighting and duels. Maybe we didn’t create good chances in the first half but we had some good chances to score a goal in the second half. It’s a draw, we have to take the point and continue working”. The Estonian coach admits missing his talismanic players in Alieu Gibba who’s on a goal and two assists, Salifu Colley with three goals and three assists and the midfield enforcer Muhammed Jobe who are all in Egypt with the Gambia U-20 for the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations. He admits: “Yes! We miss those players, of course but it is what it is we cannot influence that. We wish them all the best, and we focus on the players we have right now”. The league leaders are also without one of their leading goal scorers, in Abdoulie Baldeh who have now miss three games due to injury. Despite the draw, the City Boys remain on top of the GFF First Division League table.

Head Coach Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko says he is satisfied with his team’s performance and the manner they recorded the victory after Real de Banjul secured a 5-0 thumping win over Samger FC at Live Your Dream Sports Academy in Basori on Wednesday evening. The victory was Zahovaiko and his side’s first of the season at the Live Your Dream Academy sports complex and it was a result which pleased the gaffer. “I am happy with the attitude the team came out to play the game and the final result which is very satisfactory,” our Estonian head coach said. Striker Abdoulie Ceesay’s debut goal, Salifu Colley’s wonderful strike, winger Modou Lamin Demba’s brace and Ousman Kujabi finishing the brilliant injury time counterattack helped record a scintillating 5-0 home victory over Samger, dubbed the ‘academy boys’. Slava’s side won all their three away fixtures but could only pick just a point in each of their first two home fixtures before their emphatic 5-0 drubbing of the ‘Academy boys’. He revealed the secret behind the win saying that: “We talked with the team about winning games at home which is very important and so far we have only two draws and that’s it. So, this kind of situation (of not winning at home) is not good for us. We talked about it and I am very happy with the attitude with the way the team came out to play today and the final result is very satisfactory.” With the win, the City Boys now lead the GFF League Division One table with 14 matches after six outings. “It’s always good when the team is scoring more goals in a game but we try to maintain that level. Now the boys prove that they can create and score goals, so it’s quite a tough challenge for the coaches to keep this level but I really hope that we open that potential. The players’ confidence is raised now and I hope this continues”. He added: “I have to say good things about our fresh legs (the second half substitutes), they came in, they believe that they can score. The last goal was a beautiful counterattack from our own half with five-six seconds we arrive the final third and score. It was beautiful. I am happy for (Ousman) Kujabi and Sheikh (Jaw), our young boy, he made the first pass from our own half and ran to final third to make the final pass and that’s his first assist so, I am really happy for him.” Ahead the Samger game, the news of Zahovaiko’s nomination as Coach of the Month broke out but for the man, all he cares about is his team winning and putting up good performances rather than personal accolades. “All I care is my players and the performance, so if my team is performing well what else do I want. It’s nice but we don’t think about this (individual awards). Now, we celebrate today and tomorrow we already focus on the next opponent,”…

BY: Media Officer Foday Jatta Real de Banjul attacking midfielder Alieu Gibba says he is delighted to score the only goal in the club’s 1-0 win over Team Rhino as he prepares to travel to Egypt for the 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations with the Gambia. Gibba was assisted to score a brilliant strike by another U20-hopeful Salifu Colley as they count down the days ahead of their Group C opening match against Tunisia in Alexandria. “It’s a pleasure for me to score a goal and win the game for my club before the AFCON U20 but this a team work not individual and I am proud of my mates and wishing them good luck in the league whilst we are away,” Gibba said. The fan favorite, who’s also known as Gaucho, a nickname he derived from former Brazil superstar Ronaldinho, says he dedicates his winner to his fans who always chant his name in joy when watching him play. He said: “Their support is something that has been happening since I was younger. I am someone who’s always loved by the fans. It’s a joy to hear fans shouting my name, it’s a pleasure. When I hear them chanting my name, it motivates me, it adjusts my game to be honest. I am so proud of them and I will dedicate the goal to them.” New signing, Adama Jarju who joined the Whites at the tale end of the preseason seems to have settled in quickly. “All praise be Allah”, Jarju said whilst adding that football is my job. Before I joined Real de Banjul I have been training 100%, but the lads welcomed me well and that helped me settle in quickly. I am very happy that we collected the maximum points today. I came to the team with a lot of experience and I believe in myself, so I try to share that experience with them and push them. I have played where they did not play yet so they look up to me. I advise them a lot and they take it too, so I am very happy to join the club,” Jarju said. For Head Coach Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko, it wasn’t a good and convincing performance from his side but he was happy that they collected the important three points. “To be honest it wasn’t the best performance from us but I’m happy for the three points. We didn’t create many chances so that’s a problem because if you don’t create, you cannot score goals. Today we struggled in creating the spaces in the wing area but happy with the three points!” Asked about Alieu Gibba’s goal that won him the game, Slava said: “He scored a beautiful goal from distance with one touch. It’s a really nice goal that you can watch the replay and enjoy many, many, times. We are also happy that we have these kind of players as a leader who can in a tough situation take the game into their…