Football fans in Brikama in the West Coast Region are rallying behind Brikama United, the town’s main football team as they host Raja Casablanca of Morocco in the first leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary round match on Saturday.
Hoping to win the home game, the fans have been launching various campaigns to get the locals to come out and support the team.
“We are expecting high turnout. For the team to perform well, we’ll have to show up and give our support,” says Ebrima Darboe, a fan.
For Modou Lamin Touray, another fan, the team has good players to face-off with the Moroccan outfit. ‘’I’ve seen the players of Brikama United in action and I know they can take on any team in the CAF Champions League. I have high hopes in the team.”
Modou Lamin Nyassi, the head coach of Brikama United is urging fans to support the team.
“If you win the heart of the community, it’s always easier to deliver for them. Now that the whole community is behind us, I want to prove to Gambians that Brikama United can go far in this championship,” Nyassi tells The Chronicle.
No Gambian club has ever made it to the CAF Champions League group stages, and Nyassi is hoping that his team will be the first to do so.
“My target is to go beyond the preliminary round even though it’s a mountain to climb. Nothing is impossible. I want to be first Gambian coach to reach the group stages.”
Brikama United earned the rights to represent The Gambia in the CAF club competition after winning the National Division One League in June.
Raja Casablanca is widely considered as the biggest football club in Morocco and one of the most prestigious clubs on the continent.
