SJAG Award is Back to Celebrate Homegrown Sport Talents, Legends

The nation’s prestigious and most sought-after Sports Awards Night is here again with a well-packaged and exciting award scheme.

The Sports Journalists Association of The Gambia (SJAG) which has over the years recognized and rewarded the country’s hardworking sports Men and Women will hold its 11th edition on 3rd July 2021 under the theme “Celebrating to inspire.”

The SJAG is established as the country’s greatest form of appreciation that recognizes excellence in the sports field with accolades awarded annually through vetting from a competent set of sports committees.

The Award has not only motivated active Gambia sportsmen and women but continues to serve as a source of inspiration for aspiring young sportsmen and women, who are looking up to the awardees as sports role models.

Speaking to the Chronicle, The Secretary-General of the Sports Journalists of The Gambia Alieu Ceesay said the only category available for this year is the Foreign Based Athlete and also a remembrance awards for veteran and fallen sports legends of the country.

Mr. Ceesay added that even though not many sporting activities had happened in The Gambia last year due to the global pandemic which made the league incomplete but Gambian foreign-based Athletes had their leagues completed.

“We had some individual athlete and team performances in international competitions that we are going to celebrate and award.”

Ceesay said it has not been easy organizing such awards year in, year out, but the support of partners to the organizing committee under the leadership of SJAG President Musa Sise is overwhelming.

“We have to thank them for believing in SJAG and supporting this event. We are looking forward to a very successful event.”

Senegal and Liverpool football star Sadio Mane is expected to grace this year’s award and with over 400 guests from The Gambia and Senegal.

This year’s event will be held on 3rd July 2021 at the Sir Dawda Jawara Conference Centre in Bijilo.

In 2020 the SJAG could not hold an Award night because the world was confronted with a global pandemic and all activities were put to hold.

A look at the 2019 Award nominees & Winners:

Nominees and winners

 

Best Female Team of The Year

Gambia Armed Forces Volleyball Team

Red Scorpions Football Team (Winner)

GAF Beach Volleyball Team

 

Best Female Coach

Chorro Mbenga – Red Scorpions Female Football Team

Mariama Bom Sowe – National Female Team

Mariama Sallah – National Athletics Team (Winner)

 

Outstanding Senior School in Sports

Bottrop Senior School (Winner)

The Gambia Senior School

Essau Senior School

 

Male Coach of The Year

Mattar M’Boge – National U-20 Coach

Pa Barrow – National Beach Volleyball Team coach

Sulayman Kuyateh – Coach of Gamtel/Gamcel FC (Winner)

 

Best Referee of the Year

Bubacarr Bass

Lamin N Jammeh (Winner)

Mustapha Bojang

 

Best Female Athlete

Adama Tamba – Red Scorpions FC (Winner)

Abie Kujabi – GAF Volleyball team

Ola Buwaro – Athlete

 

Best Male Team of the Year

Gamtel FC – 2018 League Champions

SK East Male Volleyball Team – 2018 Volleyball Champions

2018 Gambia U-20 Team – WAFU Champions (Winner)

 

Best Local-based Athlete

Adama Tamba – Red Scorpions Female Team

Bubacarr Jallow – Gamtel FC

Abdoulie Ndow alias Hoyantan – Wrestler of Club Ndongo Ceesay (Winner)

 

Best Foreign-Based Athlete

Faye Njie – Judoka (Finland)

Musa Barrow – Atalanta (Italy)

Omar Colley – Sampdoria (Winner)