The Gambia sports family came out on Sunday to pay their last rest to a fallen colleague, Ms Fatou Mbye, who died at her native village of Sukuta on Saturday after a prolonged illness.

Ms Mbye, 28, was until her untimely death a sports coordinator at the department of Youth and Sports. Hundreds of sports personalities from across the region as well as other well wishers including the mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council, Mr Yankuba Colley, stormed the Kombo North village to remember a young lady, who was known for her good-natured spirit and dedication to sports development. The deceased, who had served as a sports journalist with various radio stations in the country was also an active   member of the Gambia Football Coaches Association.

Her father, Mr Bakary Mbye, shared some of his best memories of his fallen daughter ? a lady who always could turn a bad situation into something positive with her upbeat personality and love of life and religion. "She is and was my absolute best friend and the guiding force in my life. She always has been and she always will be," Mbye who himself has been a sportsman all his life said of her fallen sports-loving daughter.

The deputy permanent secretary at the ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr Abdoulie Kah, who represented his minister at yesterday?s burial, said the impact of Ms Mbye's death on youth and sports department is simply unimaginable. He described the deceased as a hard-working lady who was also a delight to work with.