Pressure is mounting on the Gambia Football Federation to either scrap the 2019/2020 season and announce it null and void, or declare a champion for the league.
Football in the country has been on suspension since March 18 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Just recently, the Confederation of Africa Football gave member associations an ultimatum to decide on how it intends to complete the remainder of the season.
At the time, Real De Banjul were on top of the table with 29 points after 14 games, 6 points ahead of second place Gambia Armed Forces.
As the wait continues, some stakeholders and fans have demanded a termination of the season and others called for current league leaders, Real De Banjul to be declared champions. But Ebou Faye, the 2nd Vice President of The Gambia Football Federation said it is hasty to declare a winner at this moment. “It is premature to crown a champion, “he tells The Chronicle. If that’s the case, what about the 2nd division, promotion and also relegations, “Faye asked? We haven’t reached a stage of crowning a champion yet.”
“All our planning is premised on government’s decision. If they end the state of emergency without restriction, then football will continue, if not football has to stop. The health of Gambian people is more important than football, “Faye said.
Mustapha Gaye, an ardent national football league follower is calling for the current league leaders to be declared champions. “I think is it fair to crown Real De Banjul as champions, “he tells The Chronicle. “I don’t support Real De Banjul but it’s fair to give them the crown. We shouldn’t be thinking of playing football right because our health should be priority.”
Almameh Jassey, another national league follower said “If you crown current league leaders as champions, it won’t be fair to the bottom teams who are also struggling to stay in the league. “I think the best way is to cancel this league.”
With no immediate end in sight to the Covid-19 pandemic, Malang Fofana has called on the football Federation to stage a voting process for stakeholders to decide on how to end the league season. “We don’t know when this is ending, “he said. Let the GFF engage the football stakeholders to vote to agree if Real De Banjul should be champions or not.”
