Real de Banjul have clinched the Club’s thirteenth GFF League Division One title as their goalless draw against Waa Banjul on the final day was enough for them to finish top of the 2022/2023 league table. The domestic league title that eluded the City Boys since the 2013/2014 season has been finally captured amid a dramatic fashion, as the Whites spent much of the season chasing Falcons FC before they overtook the Abuko-based side in the second to last game of the season. Estonian head coach Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko and his charges’ superior goal difference to Falcons turned out to be the difference as their draw against Waa Banjul was enough to clinch the title despite Falcons’ final day 4-2 victory over Steve Biko. The City Boys got their crown and colourful coronation at a packed full KG5-Mini Stadium in Banjul, a befitting atmosphere for the City Boys to claim their title. Zahovaiko who was brought in this season to replace club legend Bye Malleh Wadda, led to the City Boys to conquer the top-tier Gambian league was elated after the City Boys are crowned champions in Banjul. “I would’ve love to take all the the credit but I cannot. I am not alone, I had very good staff who helped me everyday. We also have very good and talented players, they did an excellent job. Nice journey with ups and downs but at the final stage (of the season) we showed real willpower, I’m so proud of the team. Congratulations to the whole club, to the President and all the management, it’s a nice feeling,” Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko said. Despite spending much of the season below the top of the league table, Zahovaiko, nicknamed ‘Slava’, credits the secret behind the team’s success to the following saying that: “When I first came, we set goals and one of the biggest goals was good training process, hard work, I think those are some of our secrets, actually we didn’t lose hope we always fight.” Zahovaiko added: “Actually there was some moments we thought now everything is gone, but suddenly everything changed and I am really happy that the boys took it (win the league). We have great staff, we have best Presidents (club management), they supported us from the first day and the players, they did the job because they were the ones on the pitch. So, I give all the credit to the players”. The 41-year-old concluded by saying that: “Oh, I am relieved (that Real de Banjul won the league), it was not an easy job I must say but I am happy that we achieved together in my first season. It was a long time that the club was waiting to feel like this, so it is a great day, today. For me personally, this is the first time of me winning a trophy and working abroad as a coach, I will never forget that!” Goalkeeper Lamin Saidy, who captained the City Boys to their 13th league title, said that:…

BY: Media Officer Foday Jatta Estonian and Real de Banjul’s head coach Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko says he’s happy for his boys and winning the first three points as Real de Banjul began its 2022/23 GFF League Division One season with a 4-1 thumping victory over the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF). The City Boys went behind to a first-half lead before a second-half brilliant display with a brace each from forward Salifu Colley and striker Abdoulie Baldeh was enough to turn the game on Real’s favor. “I am happy for the boys that we won the first three points, it’s very important that we start well. I felt a little bit of tension because we trained for three months and the boys wanted to succeed,” Zahovaiko said. He added: “In the first half, we struggled a lot but after the halftime team talk, we came back with a good attitude. Congratulations to everyone”. He said it was very “nice goals (scored by by Colley and Baldeh) because, in the first half, we only had two shots on the goal, not much so two is not enough. So, that was the message that we have to score more and as quickly as possible and it happened in the second minute of the second half. I like that we have nice combination play and really fast arrival in front of the goal with or touch finishing. I’m happy for the boys.” Zahovaiko who’s commonly known as Slava, hailed the team spirit of his side saying: “It’s not easy to come back when you are one zero down. So I think we have a good spirit in the team, and what I like about the boys is that they hate to lose, I think that’s the most important thing. They (GAF) had a lucky goal, I’m not sure if it’s a goal or not but we have to trust the linesman”. Slava notes that he wasn’t lucky for the red card on the GAF goalkeeper but agreed it makes it easy to play against a team with a man down. “I cannot say that it’s a lucky red card for us because we try to play more directly behind the line and with the first ball we succeeded, the goalkeeper committed the mistake and when a team (the opponent) is one man down it’s easier to play, but I can say that the opponent fought still so it wasn’t an easy game for us”. The new Real de Banjul gaffer outlined the targets for him and his team for the new league season saying that it is: “to win the league and to help the players to reach the next (professional) level and help the club to have a good and solid training system. That’s my target!” Abdoulie Baldeh, who scored a brace on the evening, said he was happy to score in the first game of the season and he felt it was deserved after the preparation they’ve been through. Baldeh said: “Last season,…