Both male and female Gambian footballers are among the nominees for this year’s Gambia Sports journalist Association (SJAG) awards, scheduled for 27th April 2018 at the Djembe Beach Hotel in Kololi.
The annual ceremony which is entering its 9th edition this year, is to recognise sporting excellence and to reward the efforts and contributions of those involved in sports in general, from football players to athletes, wrestlers, coaches and referees.
And this year’s event has seen a host of footballers from both male and female categories, home and abroad, lined up for the recognition accolade. Gambian International striker, Baboucarr Steve Trawally is running alongside international teammate and FC Midtjylland defender, Bubacarr Sanneh, who was on target last weekend for his first goal since moving to Midtjylland early this year. The duo will be vying for the Foreign-based athlete of the year award, alongside volleyball player, Baboucarr Jarra of Gaston Berger University Volleyball team.
Other football personalities involved are Mustapha Drammeh formerly of Bombada FC and Saikouba Ceesay of Gambia Armed Forces FC, both of whom are contending for the Local-based Athlete of the year award, whilst Gambia Women’s International and Red Scorpion forward, Adama Tamba is also nominated in the female category of the Local-based Athlete of the year.
Both men’s Division One League Champions, The Gambia Armed Forces FC (GAF) and the Female League Champions, Interior are also running respectively for the team of the year gongs. Likewise, GAF’s Coach Ebou Jarra and the National Female team’s coach
Mariama Sowe, who also coached the Interior womens team and Red Scorpions’ Haddy Sanneh, are joined by female athletics coach, Mariama Sallah to respectively vie for the male and Female coach of the year awards.
In the referees’ category, female football referee, Isatou Touray is joined by Basketball referee, Malick Mbye and volleyball oggicial, Ousman Njie.
According to the organisers, and speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, the association’s Secretary General, Alieu Ceesay told the gathering preparations for the event on Friday evening are at an advanced stage and they the organisers are looking forward to a successful of event. The Secretary General also called on Gambians to come out and give their support to the event.
The awardees who were nominated by the country’s sports journalists, are expected to be joined by a host people from different walks of life, across the length and breadth of the small West African state, including journalist, politicians, musicians and other personalities from within the country and abroad.
This year’s award will be the 9th such event organised by SJAG, dating back to 2009 when the award event was launched and over the years a host sporting men and women from across the country have received the coveted accolade including the three-time Glo-CAF African Referee of the year award winner, Bakary Papa Gassama.
The association’s president and the chairman of the awards committee, Mr Musa Sise also revealed the event will see a SJAG President’s Award to be awarded to deserving individuals, along with the awards to veterans and a special award to wrestling as a sport, which will both be running alongside the regular awards for Local based athlete, foreign based athlete, coach of the year, referee of the year, team of the year, sports personality of the year, female coach of the year, and the female athlete of the year awards.
According the Treasurer, Namory Trawally, the budget for this year’s event will be in the region of $10, 000. And he has called on institutions and companies to come on board and support the association in this drive.
See list of nominees and award categories below:
Foreign Based Athlete:
1- Baboucarr Jarra (Gaston Berger University Volleyball)
2- Bubacarr Sanneh (AC Horsens/FC Midtjylland)
3- Bubacarr Trawally (Yanbian/Guizhou Hengfeng)
Local Based Athlete:
1- Mustapha Drammeh (Former Bombada FC)
2- Lamin Ceesay “Boy Balla” (Jabang Club Mbollo)
3- Saikouba Ceesay (GAF)
Team of the year
1- GAF Men’s football team
2- YMCA Female Basketball Team
3- Interior Female Football Team
4- National Wrestling Team to Ecowas 2017 Wrestling competition
Best Coach of the year:
1- Ebou Jarra (GAF)
2- Foday Singateh (Female YMCA Basketball Team)
3- Mariama Sowe (Interior Female Football Team)
4- Sulayman Bah (Wrestling Ecowas Team 2017)
Best Referee of the year:
1- Isatou Touray (Football)
2- Malick Mbye (Basketball)
3- Ousman Njie (Volleyball)
Best Female Athlete
1- Ola Buwaro (Athlete)
2- Adama Tamba (Red Scorpions Football Team)
3- Yassin Jal Mboob (YMCA Basketball)
Female Coach of the year
1- Mariama Sowe (Interior Football Club)
2- Mariama Sallah (Athletics Coach)
3- Haddy Sanneh (Red Scorpions)
Special Award Wrestling as a sport:
Honor List:
Hon MC Cham
Hon Ousainou Darboe
Abdoulie Ndure
Ma Lamin Badjie
Ndow Njie
Hon Omar Amadou Jallow
Binta Daffeh
Badou Mbenga
The late Solomon Cole
