Real de Banjul defender Makaira Tambedou says he grateful to be back and is ready to serve the City Boys who supported his recovery from the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury he suffered. The centre-back, who has now fully recovered from the ACL injury he suffered in 2021, had a successful loan spell at Elite United last season before returning fully fit to play for Real de Banjul where he has seem to have formed a solid partnership with David Sambou at the heart of the defense, as the two marshalled the champions’ back-line with two consecutive clean sheets in two league matches. Speaking to club media after two outstanding outings for the City Boys, the tall, commanding and powerful center, said he is elated to be back playing for the club he feels indebted to. “I feel great to be back playing for Real de Banjul, a club that I can say is the reason why I’m able to play again by helping me do my operation on my knee which was an ACL, so the club deserves my service and I’m willing to be part of the team to defend the championship InshAllah (God willing) with all my heart,” Tambedou said. Makaira feels the clean sheets recorded after the two games are no flukes and they deserved praise for them. He said: “The victories with clean sheets shows how united we are as defenders and how determined we’re during the training, because as the coach will say his weakness is the defenders which is a motivation word for us to work hard as a team. So, we hope we continue working extra hard with the help of the gaffer who’s behind how we play as a back four.” He said going on loan to Elite United last season helped build his confidence and made him ready to return to Real de Banjul: “I never regret going on loan and even more to a second division team, which is Elite United, a club that help me build my confidence back with the help of the coaches there who had the believe in me. Everything paid off and the loan move was the perfect plan for me. So I am good to go as I’m Real For Real!” Head Coach Ebrima Jatta commented on the return of Makaira Tambedou saying that: “When I came to Real de Banjul, he was at home nursing his injury but did pop up time to time to the training ground. He returned last season when he recovered but he was sent on loan at Elite United. Disappointingly for me, I couldn’t watch him play during his loan at Elite United. So he came back (to Real de Banjul) when I’m the head coach, and I was still thinking if he can make the team.” Coach Jatta added: “I even considered sending him back on loan but as we progressed into the preseason, I could see certain qualities in him of which I really like…

Head Coach Ebrima Jatta said he expected a difficult first half against Greater Tomorrow which was why the players had to sit back and close the gaps behind the ball to stop them from scoring on Sunday evening. The reigning champions maintained their perfect start to their title defense season with a late goal from Muhammed Suso enough to secure the three points at the Box Bar mini stadium in Brikama against Greater Tomorrow. Speaking to the club’s media, Head Coach, Ebrima Jatta said that: “Going into the game against Greater Tomorrow, I personally knew it was going to be a very difficult game for us especially in the first half knowing fully well that they’re playing at home with a park full of their supporters. With their movements and touches, all we had to do was sit back and study them, close the gaps behind the ball and stop them from scoring.” He added: “We lacked that creativity when we had possession. You can also see gaps between our midfield and the offensive third when we lost the balls and allowed the opponent to play the ball without being pressured coming to our defense line and making those dangerous passes. But with all that we had the composure to close the gaps to stop them from making those penetrative passes, we forced them to play through the wings and send in crosses knowing that we have very solid defenders who are good in aerial duels.” On the perfect start after winning the first two games, Jatta alias ‘Giggs’ said: “The perfect start to the season continues with no goal conceded, that is our main objective. Personally, I hate to concede goals – perhaps from set pieces which is going to be a gamble but I will hate to see my defense line been broken into pieces and scored through open play.” He added: “My style of football is to make sure every player on the pitch masters their responsibilities to their fingertips, that way whenever situations arises, you’ll know what to do but it is my responsibility to teach them that. It is a good start to the season, I hope it continues.” “Since I came to Real de Banjul one and half season ago, winning three games in a row was a bit difficult for us to achieve and last year we recorded a hat-trick of loses which is against the culture of Real de Banjul, I’m fully aware and I’m trying to avert those situation. We have two wins out of two and we hope that when Steve Biko comes visiting, we get another victory again.” Real de Banjul will host Steve Biko at the Live Your Dream Sports Academy in Basori on Friday, November 24.

Head Coach Ebrima Jatta says being appointed as the gaffer of Real de Banjul is a new beginning in his coaching career as he led the City Boys to an impressive 2-0 victory over Fortune FC in matchday-one of the 2023/24 GFF Division One League season on Saturday at LYDSA. Ebrima Jatta who is fondly known as ‘Giggs’, was promoted to the role of head coach this season after previously serving under Bye Malleh Wadda as assistant coach for two seasons before working with the Estonian coach Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko in the same role last season. “I call this a new beginning in my coaching career to coach one of the biggest clubs in The Gambia in Real de Banjul. I want to thank the Real de Banjul management for the trust,” Jatta said after the game. The Champions roared to a good start to their title defense with two beautiful strikes from exciting full-back Mustapha Nyassi and tricky winger, Alasana Yirajang, to deservedly beat Fortune FC. Despite Jatta guiding the City Boys to a flying start at home, he has that said he isn’t satisfied. “I will never be satisfied because I have a philosophy that I am trying to bring to this club like every other coach have theirs. So, I came with mine. I have to be observant especially in the build up, retention of the ball, how to quickly win the ball back, and the players positional movement in the games. It is going to be difficult playing against Real de Banjul. Real de Banjul are very demanding, they have a very, very clear vision. So, as a coach you’ve a serious responsibility,” he said. He added: “I barely sleep at night. I go bed late and wake up as early as 4:00 am to head for training. We have to work hard, a standard is set and we’ve to maintain it, nothing below that standard is acceptable! You either maintain the standard or move it to a higher level, that is our responsibility as coaches. We’ve to develop these players to be ready for the world market and we’ve to compete in the league and try to win it. These are clear objectives of the club”. Jatta described winning the first league game against Fortune FC as a moral booster but credits the whole coaching staff and team for the victory. “Winning our first game against Fortune which is one of the best teams in the Gambia in terms of performance, is a moral booster. Two goals scored, I compliment the players for that, they worked for it and they got us the goals even though they could’ve scored more if they were more focused. For the clean sheet I will take it together with my technical staff. This is how you want to play at Real de Banjul, this is how you want to defend the championship.” Asked what he makes of debut goals for Mustapha and Alasana, Coach Ebrima Jatta said: “Mustapha Nyassi is…