GFF 2nd Vice President Ebou Faye presenting the trophy to the team on Saturday 24th June, 2023.
By Landing Ceesay
Real de Banjul, a Banjul-based football club, was crowned champions of the Baluwo-sponsored Gambia Football Federation First Division League.
Real De Banjul won the Gambian League on Saturday after a goalless draw against Waa Banjul. The two Banjul-based clubs played at the KG5 Mini Stadium in Banjul, with Real De Banjul clinching the title on goal difference. This is the first time that Real De Banjul has won the league since 2014, ending their nine-year trophy drought.Real de Banjul needed just one point to win the league title on the final day of the season. If their rivals, Falcons FC, won their game by more than seven goals, Real de Banjul would need to win their game to secure the title. However, Falcons FC only won their game 4-2, meaning that Real de Banjul could afford to draw their game. They did so, playing a goalless draw against Waa Banjul, and were crowned champions for the first time in nine years.
Speaking to Kerr Fatou about his team’s triumph in the League, Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko, Head coach of Real De Banjul, gives credit to his staff and “brilliant” players for the trophy.
In an interview with Kerr Fatou, Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko, head coach of Real De Banjul, credited his staff and “brilliant” players for the team’s victory in the league. He said that the trophy was a result of their hard work and dedication.
“I have a fantastic staff, my players are brilliant and talented, and I have the best president,” Coach Zahovaiko told Kerr Fatou.
Lamin Saidy, captain of Real De Banjul, attributed the team’s achievement to their hard work and dedication to the game.
“We work hard, we train hard, and we stick together throughout the season, that is why we won the League today,” Saidy told Kerr Fatou.
Real De Banjul went home with D1 million dalasis and a giant trophy as League winners.
In December 2022, Baluwo and the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) signed a sponsorship deal worth $25,000 which is equivalent to D1,549,025.
Each of the 16 First Division teams would receive D50,000 from the sponsorship deal and the balance of the money would be used to increase the league prize money to D1,000,000.
Baluwo prides itself on being a different startup that offers migrants an alternative to sending money to their families. Among the services they offer are an easy, fast, and safe way to buy online mobile top-ups, prepaid electricity, food, and construction materials for families, and friends.