AT LAST JUSTICE FOR GUNJUR

Justice left it too late but finally had the utterly deserved last word as Gunjur clinched Super Nawettan trophy, unusually, their first in history.

All those big-name players, all that struggle, in all those years, yet only now the champions. This was a boast long overdue.

Gunjur Players with the trophy

Not until three minutes from the end and the fearful threat of a penalty shoot-out did Malang Jassey netted a penalty to strike down Banjul and send Gunjur fans into crazy celebrations with the chant "win woo win, win by force".

Banjul almost proved the pundits wrong as Gunjur, considered the favorites, showed merely nervousness in the first period.

Banjul could have been painting the Independence Stadium blue through the first period, instead only manage one goal out of their real chances and Gunjur came from behind to triumph 2 - 1 in their first ever appearance at the finals.

It was perhaps the most attended final in the history of Super Nawettan championships. If living, the Stadium itself will know there is something different happening. Board of sponsors Fi-Bank, Lamin Kaba Bajo G.F.F president and many other important personnel were in attendance.

A massive crowd mainly frenzied Gunjurians were in no doubt of the desired out come, there dreams were almost shattered as Banjul's attacking football left their side (Gunjur) panic for most part of the first period.

Straight after the kick off Assan Gaye burst into Gunjur's goal area and hit straight at the keeper. Since that moment, Gunjur's defence looked very disorganize.

Defensive midfielder Ousman Nyassi seat deep in a bid to give more protection to his back four, but that gave more space to Banjul in midfield, where his partner Salifu Bojang looked vulnerable as Banjul's Alieu Jongana and Lamin Saidykhan dominated and quite often move freely into the area of creativity.

Their attacking plans paid in the 18th minutes, when a miss communication handed them a penalty. A cross was whipped into Gunjur box and both defender Jerreh Bojang and left back Yusupha Touray race to the ball without deciding who should leave it for who, Yusupha lately attempt a clearance and caught the back of an opponent for the referee to award a penalty to Banjul.

Left back Essa Jallow stood comfortably and send keeper Yunus Jatta a wrong way with a well taken penalty.

Gunjur missing the ability, influence and inspirations of their commanding centr-back Musa Ndong who was ruled out due to injury, continue to look scrappy and Banjul continue to attack.

Moments later Banjul had a strong shout for another penalty turned down when Mbemba brought down an opponent, to my own judgement that was more of a penalty than the first awarded, but, that is not how referee Lamin Nyangadou interprets the action as he waves play on, much to the disgust of Banjul.

It was all Banjul in the first 30 minutes. They squandered another opportunity on 36th minutes that should have been their second as Assan Gaye tap over unmarked from 10yards out and was made to pay as Gunjur leveled from the resulting attack after the goal kick.

Lamin Jallow exchange passes with Malang Jassey down the left wing and laid to Salifu Bojang at the edge of the box who then drive to his right to look for perfect angle before striking low into the bottom left hand corner of Ahmed Savage's net from 19yards out.

The goal makes a difference as Gunjur started to get more involve and soon missed a chance that should have put them in front in the closing stages of the first half.

Keeper Savage drop a cross under the nose of striker Omar Bojang who only hit the shot against the legs of Savage and Lamin Jallow rebound the volley wide with the keeper standing nearly 16 yards out of his goal line.

However, the second period was more lively. Gunjur picked their rhythm and start their quick attacking football, while Banjul have to do more defensive works than attack.

Impressive Malang Jassey really should have scored but missed a clear-cut chance after a combination with Mbemba Fatty wide in the Banjul box as he rolled the ball wide with the post at his mercy.

Line Up

Banjul though, were good on the ball, but misses the attacking magic they showed in the first half, they finally make their first attack after 74 minutes when they dispossessed Gunjur's attack and break on a counter attack. Substitute Gabou Gomez had a shot block from close rang by Ousman Nyassi who steadied the midfield in the second half to ensure his side played their usual football.

With the match seeming a certain draw as Gunjur prepared to introduce substitute goalie Dodou Jobe for penalties, while Banjul were bringing on penalty specialists, then came the deciding moment with only three minutes remaining.

Pacy Lamin Jallow raced to a pass down the left wing and cut infield to skipped inside Demba Walters who brought him down in the box for the referee to quickly blow for a penalty.

That moment Gunjur supporters were all on their feet waiting to celebrate. Malang Jassey takes the make or break penalty and perfectly sent the keeper a wrong way for partying to begin at the stadium and home.

To Gunjur the glory. At the very last justice was most definitely done. Several year trophy wait is over.

It was all celebrations for the Gunjur fans who have long been waiting for the historic moment. Perhaps the biggest victory celebrations at the stadium. Gunjur doesn't just won a giant trophy and seventy-five thousand dalasis prize money, but also have two of their players decorated.

Outstanding midfielder Salifu Bojang who is only two years old in the championships was awarded the player of the tournament. While winger Mbemba Fatty who scored five goals to equal Gunjur greatest striker Ousman Badjie [Carsten Janker's] record of number of goals scored in one Super Nawettan campaign for Gunjur, receives the leading goal scorer's award.

The victory came under the name of Gunjur but was celebrated by the whole West Coast Region especially Kombo South where people came out in large numbers on the streets to give the team a guard of honor on their way home.

The triumph was dedicated to the legendary Buba Star Janneh whose name came to the mind whenever one talk about Gunjur players at the national level.

Is there any better way to end trophy drought than this. History is no more in the making it is achieved by the youngest ever team to win Super Nawettan.