The Gambia U-19 teamwill return to Banjul on Tuesday morning after a weeklong sojourn in Italy at the invitation of the Italian Amateur Football Federation as part of the 3rd edition of their international football tournament. The Gambia played two matches in the tournament and exited without a win following a 2-0 defeat to Slovenia followed by a 1-1 draw with the hosts.

Cognizance of the bilateral ties the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Italy are arranging for the Gambia Football Association, the Gambian team and delegation have been given preference to stay in Gubbio and Perugia to engage in practice matches. The junior Scorpions on Friday beat Serie D Champions SC Trestina 2-0 with goals from Dawda Sisoho and Saloum Faal.

The team were joined by Permanent Secretary MOYS Mambaynick Njie at the Trestina Stadium. The PS earlier arrived in Perugia for talks with the Italy officials about cooperation and technical assistance between the two countries. The team later left Gubbio for Perugia the provincial capital of Umbria.

The team on Saturday were taken on atour of Perugia’s historical area which houses the main centres of Italy’s colonial buildings in the high hills of the city. The tour further took the team to the city’s shopping mall where only a few players and officials could buy items because of the high cost.

Sunday was the final but last practice match for the Gambia U-19 against a local selection in Perugia. The match played at the Federation headquarters pitch is less than five minutes walk from the team Hotel Plaza. Although very cold on the day, the lads trekked to the ground and mercilessly beat the home side 5-1 with a hat trick from Ali Sowe, while Musa Bojang and Hamza Barry each scored a goal. The Perugia side were consoled with a Ricardo second half goal.

The Gambia team will on Monday morning drive to Rome to board a Royal Air Maroc and are expected in Banjul on Tuesday morning.

Information from the Gambian camp has it that Italian football officials will be in Banjul in June as guests of the MOYS and GFA to formally sign the Memorandum of Understanding between them and the Gambian authorities. The visiting officials will also watch the Gambia Vs MoroccoWorld Cup qualifier at the Independence stadium.