I could recall in the late 60s and 70s, football was a religion in The Gambia. The level and standard of football at that time cannot be compared to today’s level, despite all the money paid to footballers and the sponsorship that goes with it, among others. One would want to ask why? Footballers at that time had pride or (Jumm) and were determined to give their best at all levels without expectation or financial reward. All they expected was an honour to serve either their clubs, which were mainly district-based or regional-based.
The football teams in those days were associated with or originated from small street clubs in little Bathurst, now Banjul, the capital city. The clear example of Banjul teams, like Real De Banjul, Black Diamond, Freezing, and Augustinians, originated from Lancaster Street, Banjul. The key elements of community support from the grassroots made the teams stronger, as they had a local support base as a foundation. The good old days of football had more public engagement, with never-ending discussions about the game on every street corner, vous, and gatherings. The coffee bar at King’s Ways in those days was a central meeting point for discussion from Mondays to Saturdays. The ambiance and fun fairy associated with it will truly never return.
The 30th of November is a historic day in Gambian football. This year marked 46 years since a football history that coincided with a football championship final between two strong teams who were also big rivals.
Football history was made in The Gambia, where the first live broadcast over Radio Gambia was of a football final between Real De Bathurst and White Phantoms Football Club. This final was between the two football giants, in those days, from the capital city of Banjul. This happened when football was at its peak and at its best. The commentary team was led by one of Gambia’s pioneer broadcasters, Dr. Seedy Jammeh, Don Diament, a British Expert who was on a technical assistance programme with Cable & Wireless, My Brothers Sandigie Njie, and Sylas Jones both sports fans and stunt supporter of Real De Bathurst and White Phantoms Football Club respectively provided the technical football backup. In subsequent life, broadcast Pap Saine of then Radio Syd joined the team of commentators.
Box Bar Stadium was the main venue of the finals, and it served as the only sports arena in those days. This live broadcast was so important in the history of sports that it gave birth to a weekly programme on Radio Gambia called Mid-Week World of Sports, which comes on every Wednesday at 8.30 pm, anchored by the late Baboucar Gaye and Sandigie Njie. This programme highlighted both local and international sports news. The match ended in favor of Real 4 and Phantoms 3, with Garnet Cooker, as usual, scoring the winning goal in the dying minutes of the game as he usually does.
The final came at a time when there was a breakaway of teams, and we had Augustinians, Adonis, and other teams having their league matches at KG 5 stadium and the others at Box Bar Stadium. Real had to beat Foyaa to reach the finals.
Line Up Of Teams
White Phontoms – Team line up: Nai Ceesay, Late Kabba Jallow ( M.I ), Pa Ousman Janneh (Beks), Lamin Secka (Elli), Saloum Njie, Late Modou Bah (Lam ), Dodou Ndure, Totto Senghore, Late Libas Gaye, Musa Manga, Alh Choks Faal, Cherno Barra Touray (Dennis Law), Ebou Fye (Limba), Alex Thomson (Ice Cream), Late Musa Joberteh.
Real De Banjul – Team line up: Captain Late Sam Sibbi, Sam Forster, Saihou Sarr, Late Alhaji Cham (Goalkeeper reserve), Kebba Jatta (Diaz), Late Abdoulie Njie (Pitty), Late Saihou Njie (Baddeh), Mustapha Conteh, Sering Omar Fye, Late Ebou Joof, Muntaga Gillen, Mustapha Fye (Tysus), Late Nyanya Sallah, Garnet Coker, Late Alhassan Cham, Late Baba Mbow, Musa Njie (Beckenbaur ), Late Salieu Foon, under the able Management of my good friend, Mam Sait Njie (Hank), the first team manager of the club.
Real De Banjul, a team I am a founding member, player, and where I later became the manager who won the Guinness Cup, which secondary school students conceived. It became a team that revolutionized football in The Gambia. It brought into the standards and collective football techniques that other teams emulated, thus raising the level that all football fans envied.
The team later expanded its activities to become a sports club with basketball, Athletics, and Volleyball teams for both males and females, as well as other sporting disciplines, featuring prominent stars as founding members. To name a few, Ousman Sabally, Bai Jobe, Felix Ceesay, Felix Gomez, Dupeh Joiner, Late Buhari Njie, Tayib Sowe, and Charbel Alhaj, among others.
The Female basketball team comprised Nyanya Jobe, Caroline, Effua Atkins, Mam Kumba Njie, Ramu Sarge Njie, Bassin Ceesay, and Kumba Ndure, and others.
The athletics team comprised Karlilou Bayo, Bamboa Fatty, Sering Omar Fye, and Kebba Diaz, and others.
Thanks to the technical advice and guidance of Teacher Cherno Touray, fondly called Dennis Law, and a VSO sports teacher, Tony Tame. The team was also fortunate to receive advice and guidance from Dettmar Cramer, a former Bayern coach, who was on a FIFA assignment at the time in The Gambia. My friend Mam Sait, the first manager of Real some years back, had the opportunity to meet Dettmar in Norway when his team was playing with Saihou Sarr’s team Mjoldalen in Drammen, Norway, and brought back the good memories of his visit to The Gambia.
Real enjoyed the support of the Banjul elite and won the hearts of Late Alh Babou Ceesay, (Mr Humor) I call him, the first President of Real, Late Sherif Mustapha Dibba, Former Vice President who served as President of the club, Late Musa Faal Of Bata, Late Alh Ousainou Njie, Late John Sinyan, Modou Senghore Texaco, First Secretary General, Mbye Njie & Sons, all served as officials and sponsors of the club. A Lebanese businessman, late Anese, Husieme of MFH Group was also prominent among the sponsors. We cannot forget to add the names of key players and officials of the team, and among them are Late Alh Kebba Conteh, Late Alh Ebou Conteh, Late Alh Njie BP, Late Alh Krubally, Medical & Health of Hopskins, Baboucar Cham, Clakson Street, Late Man Beran Joof, ECOWAS, Ousainou Jallow, CFAO, Alh Musa Coker, Late Mathar Sarr, Late Badou, and Alh Dodou Sinyan, Alh Dawda Njie Jarga,
Late Alh Ebou Conteh, Late President M.B Jarra or Uncle Jarra, President Late Alh M.O Njie, Alh Babou Fye, Treasurer, Late Alieu Kah, Late Momodou Gassama (Gassa), who served as an important pillar to the club until his demise, Badou Njie (Witt), Late Samperr, Late Abdou Gaye, Late Pindo Drammeh, Oko Drammeh, the man with the trumpet, Ndamma (taxi driver), Ebou Gaye, Mr Phillot of NAWEC, Sandigi Njie, and others.
I cannot end without mentioning our father and spiritual leader, Late Alh Saidy of Sanyang village, who played a big role in our existence. May his soul and the rest of all those who played a part in the success of the team and are no longer with us rest in perfect peace.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank the present management of the club, Bakary Jammeh, Willy Abraham, Pa Samba, and the entire management team for the efforts and contributions they have made to bring the team to the level it is today.
We are deeply honored for the recognition and support given to us as founder members of the team.
We appreciate you all. God continues to bless you all!
PS Thanks to Mam Sait Njie (Hank) and Sandigi Njie for their assistance in putting together this article.z