By Adama Makasuba

After 90 minutes of football battle between Garawol and Numuyel for the Soninkara Sporting Association championship, Garawol narrowly clinched their second title against Numulyel by 3-1 post match penalty shootouts at the Independence Stadium in Bakau on Sunday.

The annual inter-village championship aims at fostering cordial relationship and bringing the Serahuleh communities in The Gambia under one umbrella.

The final match was graced by the third vice president of Gambia Football Federation, Lang Tombong Tamba, Papa Njie, leader of the People’s Progressive Party, former secretary general and heads of civil services, Momodou Sabally, Billy G Tunkara, National Assembly Member for Kantora, and former Army Chief Ousman Badjie among other dignitaries.  Serahuleh youth in the country.

At the end of the game Garawol received a giant trophy and, a cash amount of 50,000 dalasis as champions of 2019 while Numuyel went home with 35,000 dalasis as consolation prize.

Speaking to journalists after the game, Lasana Ceesay, head coach of Garawol, said he was optimistic of lifting this year’s trophy, adding his miracle in the game was learning from his last year’s mistakes.

For Numulyel head coach, Hagie Jankey Touray, accepted the defeat in good faith adding “I am disappointed today because I never think; I will lose the penalties, even the quarter finals I won the penalties but football is like this.”

Mahamadou Cessay, chairman of the Association, said: “we evaluate it successfully and every year the interest of sports increases in the community of Serahuleh. This is the beauty of football, we are not enemies but friends as you have seen today.”

He said the Association is working on new initiative to standardize the tournament next year adding “the community is thinking in bringing new initiatives and for the first time next year there will be a qualifiers for the Soninkara Sporting tournament.”

Papa Njie, leader of PPP, expressed happiness on the turnout and discipline showcase in the game and urged other colleagues to invest in sports.

“Through sports with proper discipline The Gambia can continue to be one, and it is the responsibility of the government to make sure that the infrastructure of sports is there. Each municipality and region must have proper sports facility,” he said.