Editor,

Dismayed and disappointed at the withdrawal of Wallidan Football Club from the Continental Challenge Cup will be an understatement. What happened to "MBOLLO MOI DOLLEH?"

Where is the private sector participation in sports development? The last time I checked everyone was blowing their trumpets about contributing to the success of the Baby Scorpions triumph in 2006 and then they gave up. Simply put, the way I see it, everyone waits for the President to personally get involved and then just like the scripture says, they all show up with "oil on their faces."

Thanks to Africell for being REAL! Wallidan, except for Real De Banjul which was founded in 1967, is the oldest club in The Gambia with an exceptionally rich history of success and producing great internationals under one man for many years. He has done his utmost and it is time that those who are capable and call themselves genuine and patriotic to jump on the bandwagon and support not only Wallidan, but Gambian football and sports in general, period!

There is no reason whatsoever for Wallidan to withdraw from this competition. These tournaments are exactly what we need to keep in pace with international challenges and by extension, it is a fundamental parameter towards developing the game locally. In the piece on this story, a former GFA Boss "vividly' stated that the Football Association cannot do it alone.

That statement is one of fact and cannot be overemphasized given my first hand experience as a former representative in the GFA. Even then, a man named Housaainou Momodou Musa Njie, God bless his Soul, Alhagi Ousman Bassi Conateh, the Gambia National Insurance Corporation, Saihou Ceesay and Sons, Papa Njie Construction and the Banjul Breweries stood and supported the development of the game. This was then, when we had little success stories in the private sector, what about now when the private sector is thriving?

Mr Conateh is right on point that there is a way out and I will go the extra yard by saying, GAMBIAN FOOTBALL NEEDS THE PRIVATE SECTOR for Gambian football to get to its full potential. One man cannot do it alone as is the case today saves for AFRICEL. MBOLLO MOI DOLLEH! Bakau winning the Muhammeh Yahya Jammeh championship over my beloved native of Banjul is obliviously heart breaking, but I totally disagree with the Banjul coach that his boys were over confident.

As much as I am a Banjulian, I want to say that historically Bakau has had a lot of talents for many years. As a matter of fact, Bakau won the first Youth Week Soccer Championship in the 70's, beating a Banjulian team three zip. I may not totally recall whether it is Banjul North or Central but it happened and I know that Gambian sports historian in Pap Saine will remember which team it was.

The greats from Bakau include, Ndow Njie, Peter Ndow, Lie Jagne, Ebrima Dubois, Bashirou Awumee, Loppy, Baba Jarra, Luque, Kojo Lusack, Ousman Njie Kebbeh, Pa Samba, Toys, Saul Faye, Copral Ceesay, Kofi King, Burama Jaiteh, Solomon Gaye, Ebou Jeng, Badou Samba, Wa Wandeh Njie, Modou Njie, Oumar Jammeh, Jammong, Sarjo Njie and many more that I cannot recall straight up but Tom King always had a way of finding the best talent out there behind Bakau School. Bakau always had great success and they've always played brilliant football, always a joy to watch. Congratulations!   

mindorr@gmail.com