RACE ENDS WITH DELIGHT FOR BRIKAMA UNITED

Brikama United eventually clinched GFF first division league title and finally ended Real De Banjul and Gambia Armed Forces magnificent challenge with a 2 – 1 win over GAF in the final fixture at the stadium.

Coach Modou Lamin Nyassi’sside started the day knowing victory would ensure they would win the crown for the second time in history, but any slip-up could let in their relentless pursuers Real De Banjul, who were playing against Marimoo in a simultaneous fixture at the boxbar mini stadium.

Brikama were functional rather than fun to watch, concentrating on the result rather than winning with any flair as in their previous ties. Diminutive Adama Manneh opened the scoring for Brikama on the quarter hour mark, and Armed Forces Sulayman Sillah pegged back for GAF on the 28th minute only for young forward Momodou Bojang to sealed the win from the spot on the 50th minutes.

With community teams like Brikama playing at such crucial moment, you wouldn’t expect anything other than a massive turn-out, the crowd on the stands mostly frenzied travelling Brikama supporters were in no doubt hopeful of the desired outcome.

And their players knew the task at kick-off was to get the job done and safe themselves from disappointment, but whether it was a combination of nerves and physiological pressure, they were careless and lacking in urgency in a low momentum start, until when news filtered out fromBoxbar that Marimoo has taken the lead against Real.

It was a signal for the last assault on the title and the race was wide open again.

Both Armed Forces and Brikama up the spirit and urgency knowing the title could go in either ways. On the 15minutes Armed Forces lunched first attack as Sulayman Sillah chased a pass in the box and had a soft touch saved byBrikama’s goalkeeper Abdoulie Ceesay.

Brikama United’s response was instant and emphatic as they found the breakthrough from the resulting attack counter attack. Salifu Saho penetrated the right wing and loaded in a fine delivery from which Momodou Bojang hit the post with a header and Adama Manneh tapped home the rebound to send the crowd on their feet.

At that moment everything was at stake and Armed Forces doesn’t give up fighting, they keep pushing and on the 28th minutes had a reward.

GAF FC

A long ball was played behind the defense of Brikama and tall lanky forward Sulayman Sillah capitalized on a miss communication between the defense and the goalkeeperto drew GAF back on level terms. Sillah’s shot was nearly blocked, butAdamaSabally’s attempts and the efforts of the goalkeeper were not enough to stop the ball from crossing the line.

Perhaps Real De Banjul in Brikama may have received the news of the goal as they fought back to levelled matters against Marimoo through Mustapha Jallow.

The second half was going to be a real battle at both venues. Straight from the restart at the Boxbar mini stadium Real De Banjul took the lead against Marimoo when Abdoulie Bah slotted home from the spot to make it 2 – 1. At that moment Real were in pole position to clinch the title.

However, Brikama as well needed a similar luck for perhaps the most crucial goal of their season.

They attack on GAF and had a penalty when Saikou Jatta blocked Ebrima Badjie’s leg who attempted a shot in the box and Momodou Bojang fired home the crucial penalty to make it 2 – 1 to Brikama.

It is the first season of the young forward in the first division, but he was able to coped under the pressure and held his nervesto calmly convert the crucial penalty sending the goalkeeper a wrong way.

At that moment all GAF can do was to spoil the party for Brikama which will be to the delight of Real De Banjul, but they were unable to produce a shocker even though they came closer in the closing stages as Saikou Jatta had a header ricochet off the crossbar and Brikama breathe a sigh of relief as they held on to triumph.

Real De Banjul as well secured a 2 – 1 win over Marimoo but that was just for formalities as it only secured them second place in the standings.

Brikama may not have won the title with a higher point but this was arguably an even sweeter success given the season-long battle with Real De Banjul and GAF. The manner in which their fans ran onto the pitch in celebrations clearly shows how it means to be a champion for the travelling fans.

It was a special feeling for their charismatic captain AdamaSabally the only player to have played the entire game in both the 2012 and 2019 Brikama United’s title winning team.

Brikama Captain Receiving the Winners Prize.

“The achievement is great for me; it really means a lot to me. I’m the only player in the team to have played full ninety minutes in Brikama United and Brikama zonal team title triumph in 2012, again I lifted the trophy, is a motivation” the captain stated.

Whilst for head coach Modou Lamin Nyassi who has been criticized midway through the league season when things were not going well for the ‘Sataybaa Boys’. Winning the title in only his second season in charge of the west coast giants is a great accomplishment for the young tactician who said he feel relieved. In his own word;

Modou Lamin Nyassi. Headcoach of Brikama United.

“Is a moment of relief for me knowing that the league was very tough going upto the last day and even the last day knowing that if you don’t win you cannot win the title, is vey very tough but thank God we win the cup”.

GAF head coach EbouJarra hugged his counterpart after the final whistle congratulating him for his success. “I cannot say am not disappointed but at the same time am happy for Brikama and the community, we had to congratulate them first and foremost. If you cannot beat them you join them. Looking at the league we can say Brikama deserved to win the title, there is nothing to mourned about” Jarra echoed.

It was a fitting decoration but so disappointingly held on the ground instead of the usual position on the stands. Medals, Trophy and a winners prize of three hundred thousand dalasis(D300, 000) to Brikama united as the champions, while second place Real De Banjul pocketed D150, 000 and third position GAF D100, 000.

End of the dramatic season and congratulations to Brikama.