Olympafrica’s Modou Ngum and Sanusi Jawara and Gambia Armed Forces’ (GAF) Abie Kujabi and Saffie Sawaneh have all won gold medals in the male and female beach volleyball tournament held at the Palma Rima Beach on Sunday.
Olympafrica’s Modou Ngum and Sanusi Jawara defeated Gambia Armed Forces’ Musa Barry and Ebrima Bah 2-0 in the men’s beach volleyball gold medal match on 22-20, 21-17.
The straight sets victory provided Olympafrica breathing space in Gambia volleyball circle and wrapped up a season that saw them winning the national league. By those standards, the club has enjoyed overwhelming success in The Gambia.
Despite some back-and-forth in the match, the Eastern boys took the advantage with blocks and kills and ran with it. While their success wasn’t exactly predictable from the outset, Ngum and Jawara played well throughout the tournament.
Speaking in an interview with Voice Sports, Modou Ngum of Olympafrica expressed delight at winning his first beach volleyball gold medal, noting that this is his first beach volleyball appearance.
“This triumph is very good for my team, partner and everybody. I trained twice a day before this tournament. I go to the gym in the morning and to the beach in the afternoon,” he said.
He added that his preparations together with his partner and team helped them to gained this success
Meanwhile, Gambia Armed Forces female team, Abie Kujabi and Saffie Sawaneh also won gold medals to continue their dominance in the Gambia.
GAF were crowned winner following the absence of one of their opponent team members (Sainabou Kujabi) who is bereaved on Sunday. Meanwhile, volleyball rule says that if any team member is injured, sick or absent for a game, the points will be awarded to the other team present, as there is no substitution
The award has seen Abi Kujabi becoming the most decorated female beach volleyball player in the Gambia.
Speaking in an interview with The Voice Sports, Abie Kujabi of GAF said: “I feel very happy but unfortunately I didn’t play due to some circumstances that one of our opponents for the final is bereaved which we feel so sorry for her lost.”
She added that they prepared very well for the final, noting that it is so unfortunate that they were crowned winners without touching a ball.
