Former Gambia football coach Peter Bonu Johnson has died, the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) announced on Sunday. He was 56.

Peter Bonu Johnson passed away on Sunday after a long illness.

Tributes have poured in for the former coach and player of the national team, The Scorpions.

The Gambia Football Federation president, Lamin Kaba Bajo, said: “I have just been informed about the passing. He has contributed immensely to the growth and development of football in The Gambia and his death is an irreparable loss to our game and the country at large. I pray for Allah to have mercy on his soul.”

Baba S Touray said in a Facebook post: “Sad day for our country as we mourn the death of former Gambian coach Peter Bonu Johnson. A man who dedicated his entire life to the service of country. From being a footballer to coaching at every category of our national football. No doubt our best ever local coach! May his soul rest in peace. Amen.”

Peter Bonu Johnson, a former player of the national team started his coaching career in 2004.

He coached both the junior and senior national football teams as well as working as assistant coach from 2012 to 2013.

One of his biggest coaching achievement was in 2007 when he guided The Gambia U-20 Team to third place at the African Youth Championship and a maiden appearance at the World Youth Championship in Canada where they exited at the knockout stages.

In January 2012, he was appointed as the Head Coach of the Senior National Team but his stint was short lived after he left in May of that year.

He returned as Head Coach in 2013 for another short stint and was appointed the CHAN Team manager in 2015 but left after three months following the team’s exit at the hands of Senegal.