A task force committee tasked to investigate the violence that marred the 2009 Muhammed Yahya Jammeh Zonal Cup final between Serrekunda East and Bakau has submitted its report to the national football body, Observer Sports has gathered.

The seven-member committee, headed by the former director of Youth and Sports, Mr Cherno Touray, was instituted by the Gambia Football Association to investigate the overall organisation of the December 13 aborted final, as well as conduct a postmortem on the behaviors of the team officials and supporters before making a recommendation to the GFA executive committee on appropriate measures needed to be taken.

During its sittings, the committee thoroughly looked into the match commissioner and referee’s reports as well as reports from various media houses regarding the impasse, before drafting a final report that is expected to guide the tournament’s organisers in their decision making process. Receiving the report, the president of Gambia Football Association, Seedy Kinteh, thanked the committee for a job well done.

 He said the recommendations contained in the report [the content of which was not made public] will guide them in their quest to revolve the impasse. "Violence is a sickness in our game, and the only medicine to cure it is the application of the rules. And this case will not be an exception," the GFA boss pointed out. The December 13 final between Serrekunda East and defending champions Bakau that had promised much was brought to a premature end amid chaotic scenes with Serrekunda East leading 1-0 at the Serrekunda West mini-stadium. Scores of people were injured when the game descended into acrimony over the course of the 71st minutes. Referee Papa Gassama halted the match after he was alerted by the fourth official that his assistant referee was been stoned at by some fans at the far end of the pitch.

Security officials rushed to the scene to distance the standing fans from the perimeter fence, but before they could put the area under control, a bitter fracas erupted on the main pitch involving the players of the two sides. The diminutive Serrekunda East striker, Buba Jallow, alias Meles, was at the centre of controversy when he was spotted placing what looked like a "juju" in the Bakau goal post. His opponents descended on him before the teeming supporters around the stadium sent the situation beyond control.