Head coach Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko says Banjul United deserved the victory over his City Boys who faltered to 1-0 defeat in a rescheduled GFF League Division One fixture played at the KG5 mini stadium on Thursday. Zahovaiko and his charges endured a frustrating evening as Real de Banjul couldn’t recover from Banjul United’s early goal in the first half, as they went on to drop three valuable points. “I have to be very short on my comment today, the opponent (Banjul United) deserved the three points today and it’s fair,” the Estonian said in his post-match comments. “We are not a good team right now. This game showed exactly that we have not yet reached the level that winners need. So, it’s a lack of personality and a lack of characters today!” The gaffer has been forthright in the course of the interview and further in assessing his team’s performance and progress, he said: “It’s a process. We are an average team right now and we have to work a lot. Every player individually has to improve a lot I have to tell you. Six months we have been working and there’s some improvement but every game is quite similar for us.” “We are quite dominating the ball almost every game but the solutions in the final third and the finishing quality is just not good enough and that’s our level right now.” The 41-year-old added: “The learning ability is not at a good level. But we do the training sessions and we believe in our players but for me, it’s a very slow process, I have to admit as a coach. I was expecting that guys are learning faster.” “But we still have fifteen games in the second round of the league to go. Most of us are not happy with the performance and the results, it means that we need to find a way to perform better than we doing right now!” Zahovaiko’s side dropped to third place in the GFF League table, five points behind in-form Falcons FC and a point behind Wallidan FC who beat Greater Tomorrow to pip the City Boys to the second in the last game of the first round.

Striker Abdoulie Ceesay says playing for Real de Banjul is his happiest moment in life as he continues in scoring spree in the club’s 2-1 victory over Gamtel FC at the weekend. “It’s the happiest moment for me to be finally playing for Real de Banjul because I was always excited to be part of this club,” Ceesay said after scoring his fourth goal of the season in nine matches to help the City Boys beat Gamtel 2-1 in his debut season in our first team. The young forward has been training with club for two seasons, going on loan in the first half of his second year before playing the remainder of that season in Real de Banjul’s B team, Sporting Real, in the third division. The youngster is finally relishing his moment for the City Boys in the Gambian top division saying: “The two seasons of hard work is showing off and I am feeling very happy. I scored four goals in nine games, that’s not good enough. I can’t wait to score more goals for the club I love with all my heart. My target is to score 10 to 15 goals this season and help Real de Banjul win the league. That will be my greatest moment”. Abdoulie credits head coach Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko for his improvement and goal-scoring success saying: “He is a very good coach. He’s helping me a lot to improve as a football player. I am grateful for that. He converted me to a striker. It’s not easy to play in a new role but he’s making things that I thought were complicated become very comfortable for me and I am now scoring goals”. For head coach Zahovaiko, he is delighted with the young attacker’s improvement and says he’s happy with the role conversion from a winger to a striker for Ceesay. “When I came here, he was injured. He joined us in the later part of the preseason. For me, he has more quality as a pure striker, he has a good shooting technique. Now, every day we are teaching him to make quick decisions and now I see in training sessions that he’s using two touches when he’s in the box,” Vjatšeslav said. He added: “He’s also a player who is scoring a lot of goals in training. So for me, it’s obvious that we cannot keep him as a winger. We need to bring him more closer to the goal. We also worked on the quality to finish with one touch because you cannot afford to make three, four, five touches when you’re close to the goal. So, today I am really happy he did that (finish with one touch) with a really nice goal.” “But Ceesay has to work on his stamina, he has to last (in games) more than he usually do at the moment because after 50-60 minutes the fitness level drops very quickly”. Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko also reserved some words of praise and wisdom for the club’s…

Head Coach Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko says he’s happy to have his Gambia U20 players in Alieu Gibba and Salifu Colley back as they made a difference despite Real de Banjul’s goalless draw with Steve Biko on Monday evening. The Estonian coach was without the services of Alieu Gibba, Salifu Colley and Muhammed Jobe who were part of the Gambia U20 team that finished runners-up at the just concluded 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. “Without them and with them, we are completely different, it’s obvious. We are all happy that they are back healthy. Now they can focus on the league to help us because they are really, really good players”, Zahovaiko said after the 0-0 draw. The City Boys could only pick a point from the game which Zahovaiko said his side should be contended with. “We have to be satisfied with the one point, it’s positive that we didn’t concede any goal. It was obvious before the game that we are going to have a lot of problems because of the ground condition. I think both teams can play much better attractive football than what we just saw. There was a lot of fighting and unpredictable bouncing of the ball, it’s not nice to watch this kind of football.” The 41-year-old coach believes his side could’ve snatched the victory with the chances his side created but the pitch conditions weren’t good, saying: “In the second half, we had two good chances with Salifu Colley who almost had a one-on-one with the keeper and Abdoulie Ceesay. We managed to play even with this ground but for the league, I think this type of pitch is not good.” He added: “We spoke about the ground before the game and the message was, it is going to be a character game today so, we have to show character. We were also counting on the set pieces but the opponent was defending very well. I think it’s a fair score line”. The City Boys missed the services of midfield enforcer, Muhammed Jobe and teen star striker Abdoulie Baldeh who are both nursing injuries at the moment. Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko and his charges sit second on the GFF League table with five points behind leaders Falcons FC who played a game more.

Baba Khan is an icon of the club who our current Club president William Abraham describes as “one whom without we would’ve forgotten about Real de Banjul today”. Baba Khan used to run Real de Banjul between the 60s to the 70s, a time when the club was struggling in so many ways but Mr. Khan’s selflessness saved Real de Banjul from melting down before he moved to the United States. The iconic Baba Khan is currently in the Gambia on vacation and took time off his busy schedule at the weekend to watch the City Boys beat Waa Banjul at Real de Banjul’s very own football facility. The legendary Baba Khan sat with the club media to share his time at the club, how happy he is to see Real de Banjul at a good level and his continued connection with the club and its current management. Asked how it feels to sit and watch Real de Banjul play at its very own football facility, he said…. “It makes me feel better because when I took over Real de Banjul’s management for years, the team used to train at Box-Bar stadium in Banjul, at that time many teams used to train there so there was lack of space for us and after raining seasons, the ground would be covered with water and mud, and our players were suffering with multiple injuries. So, what I did was I spoke with Master Danso (of Danso school in Latrikunda) where I lived not far from, then we were able to clean up the field. So, myself and Bambo were able to get goal post frames and install everything there, then I moved the team from training in Banjul (Box-Bar) to Latrikunda before we moved to the Independence Stadium’s second ground. When I left for the United States, Willie being very entrepreneurial and the person that has tons of ideas, was able to take the team to this level. I had tell where the history started, Willie, Pa Yusufa Samba, Bakary Jammeh (the current club executive) and everyone got the club to this level, I am super excited and I can only thank the entire board and everyone that has been part of Real de Banjul. Job well done. I am just so thrilled and excited to see the level this club is at”. Asked whether he was still following Real de Banjul and in touch with the current management, he said…. “Willie is technically my nephew because we all came from Badibu and his Uncle was part of the team management. You see how Willie was excited when I arrived, he loves me a lot and a very respectful person. When I called him last night to tell him I was around he told me ‘boy, we have a game tomorrow and you’ve to come!’, and when I called Pa Yusufa, he said ‘Uncle if you don’t go and watch we will not win, you have to be there!’, and Bakary Jammeh…

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…

Real de Banjul head coach Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko says he is sorry for his players because they deserved all three points in the derby against Wallidan that produced a 1-1 draw at the Live Your Dream Sports Academy on Friday. “I [kind of] feel sorry for the boys because they deserved the three points. I saw a good spirit. I saw a team that wanted to win. I saw a lot of positive things and I am really happy for the boys with the way they performed,” Zahovaiko said immediately after the game. The City Boys’ hope for the league’s first derby triumph was challenged when the visitors scrambled home an early opener before new-signing Ousman Kujabi equalized midway through the second half to salvage a point for Zahovaiko’s men. “The first half was really difficult, I think the weather was like 37 degrees. It’s not easy to play in those conditions but we tried. We knew that in the second half we could bring fresh legs and we did that. The first half was really difficult but we could’ve won the game especially in the second half.” He added: “The initiative was in our hands. We brought in some fresh legs who brought good energy for us in the second and Wallidan was struggling. So, we are a little bit disappointed of the result. I think we played a good match.” He rued his team’s finishing in the final third of the pitch saying: “I think we have to work on our finishing qualities, that’s the biggest problem at the moment! We are creating chances but we are not scoring,” Zahovaiko said before adding that “it’s a matter of time I believe, the medicine is just working hard in the training sessions.” The draw at home against our arch-rivals put the City Boys in second place, four points adrift of Fortune FC in the GFF League 2022/23 table standings after match-day four.

BY: Media Officer Foday Jatta Real de Banjul captain and goalkeeper Lamin Saidy says he and his teammates learned their lessons from the Greater Tomorrow draw to bounce back and secure a win over PSV Wellingara at the FIFA Goal Project in Yundum. “We have learned a lot from the draw against Greater Tomorrow and that helped us to win today,” Saidy in his post-match comments on Thursday. Gambia U-20 striker Abdoulie Baldeh scored the only goal of the game while keeper Saidy and his defense line contained the host at the back to keep a clean sheet. “It was an important victory for the team and a collective work to win all the three points. We have to win games to be on top,” the Real de Banjul captain said. The City Boys are known of keeping the ball as their playing identity and playing from behind is the sought-after modern day football approach and Saidy is challenging himself to that task even though some people deem the approach too risky. He said: “I respect the opinion of the fans and they’re just concerned which is normal. The coach (Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko) wants me to keep the ball. I do this in training and I have to show that here (in games). The coach has confidence in me to play like that, so I have to do it”. The head coach, Zahovaiko, meanwhile was pleased to see his side improve from the Greater Tomorrow stalemate. “I am happy that we did a good conclusion from the previous game. We really started well, we had the initiatives in our hands and we played much faster football. The opponent played good in defense but we tried and kept more intensive play,” the Estonian said. He added: “We had a really good movement from Abdoulie Baldeh and he received a really good and perfect pass from Yaya Bojang and the way Abdoulie scored, I think it will be enjoyable to watch many, many, times.” Slava made four changes to the team that started against Greater Tomorrow including the Gambia key players in The Gambia U20, stars, Alieu Gibba and Salifu Colley. “When our under 20 players cannot train with us the whole week it gives a negative impact to our game. So, I am responsible for the player’s health that was the reason two player (Gibba and Colley) could not start from the beginning, but I think the plan was okay. Baboucarr Jobe and Lay Colley are young and did they did what I asked them to do in the first half and somehow that was part of the plan”. The City Boys will now shift their attention to the first derby of the season as they will host Wallidan FC at the Live Your Dream Sports Academy on Friday, the 27th of January 2023.

BY: Media Officer Foday Jatta Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko challenges his players to adopt a better attitude after their frustrating draw against newly promoted Greater Tomorrow FC at home. The Estonian tactician led his City Boys to a flyer in their opening fixture of the GFF League Division One as they thrashed GAF 4-1 but endured a frustrating afternoon at the Live Your Dream Sports Academy on Saturday against Greater Tomorrow. The Whites may find themselves unfortunate not keep their perfect start after missing the opportunity to win with Modou Lamin Demba missing a penalty, Abdoulie Baldeh hitting the woodwork twice and Salifu Colley missing a last gap opportunity and a host of clear openings that came begging to no avail. “It’s good that these kind of things are happening in the beginning of the league because we can talk about the problems now but I think our biggest problem is the attitude. I think we didn’t came into the first half with the expected attitude. There’s no easy wins. This kind of expectation has to stop. We need to bring our attitude to another level. I know the level of the boys and I know what they can do, I see them every day. In the first have we didn’t do anything to be dangerous to the opponent or to win the three points”, Zahovaiko said. “Two completely different halves. The first half was very weird to watch because I didn’t recognize the players. The performance was really, really, poor from all of them. In the second half I recognize our team, we started to play the ball, we arrived the opponent’s half more quicker, we created a lot of chances and it was nice to watch but unfortunately we didn’t score”. The City Boys were close to snatching the three points after substitute Modou Lamin Demba won a penalty in injury time before the keeper saved his spot kick. Slava said: “We had a penalty but penalties are more than lottery, but it’s a pity that we didn’t get the three points from the penalty kick. But after the penalty we had another goal scoring chance with Salifu Colley.” Slava couldn’t hide his feelings to his side after the disappointing draw, saying that; “the results of course disappoints me a lot and I think all the boys in the dress room understood that. It’s a new culture for me and I hope the boys understand my talk was serious enough and they get the right message because with this kind of first half it’s going to be a miracle to win the league”. Youngster Sheikh Jaw came on in the second half and set up Modou Lamin Demba to win the penalty and showed signs of promise for the future. “That was an easy decision to play him (Sheikh Jaw) because he was really good in the training sessions. But I think I also got the message from him that he wants to play more, so it’s a good opportunity…