CAN PORTS STAND REAL?

By John Mendy After witnessing a goal galore in Match Day 8, spectators will be hoping for goals aplenty again in the GFF League division one this weekend with a number of attention-grabbing ties coming up, notably the first meeting between champions, Ports, and Real de Banjul. There are six interesting matches spread out right across the weekend at three different venues. Saturday 4th February Hawks vs. Marimoo @ KG5 Marimoo made it three wins on the trot with their exciting victory over former champions Gamtel and they have flown under the radar somewhat to sit in third position. Hawks made a promising start to the GFF league season, but they have taken just two points from their past three games. They have now won just one of their past four games and it is tough to see them taking anything from this clash. Steve Biko vs. Armed Forces @ Stadium The Bakau based side is far from impressive against a revitalized Bombada side after the first time this season; they conceded 5 goals in a match. This has raised much concern within lovers of the team both domestic and abroad. Head Coach Abdoulie Bojang will hope this ends soon and get to winning ways with three games to the end of the first round. For the Army, these are the type of games in which they can’t really afford to drop points in and their record as away favourites suggests that they should get the job done handily – they have won five of their past 8 games in the scenario for a clear profit. GAF should be able to win this game comfortably and they are genuine value at their current irresistible form. Samger vs. Bombada @ S/K East Bombada produced their best season performance to record a dominant victory over Steve Biko 5 – 2, but they play a much tougher assignment against Samger. The later however, are experiencing an inconsistent run, winning just two so far. Bombada were on the receiving end of a couple of heavy defeats early this season after six matches winless streak, and it should come as no surprise that they will start this game as clear underdogs. Sunday 5th February Serekunda Utd vs. Brikama Utd @ Stadium Brikama United have fallen in a big hole over the past month and they go into this clash on the back of a discomforting home defeat at the hands of Tallinding United last weekend. The former have bounced back from their terrible poor start to the season to take seven points from their past four games and they are sure to have taken plenty of confidence from their second win of the season over champions, Ports Authority. There is no doubt that a lack of depth has taken its tole on Brikama and they will go into this clash with S/K United as unlikely favourites. Tallinding Utd vs. Gamtel @ S/K East Tallinding go in to this game on the back of three successive wins against Bombada, Armed Forces and Brikama Utd while Gamtel suffered three straight losses in recent weeks. Gamtel’s awful run have plunged the team to bottom of the log last weekend with just five points in their carts, thus heaping severe scrutiny to head Coach Ousman Badjie and his players. Therefore, Tallinding will go into this game as heavy favourites and has always played extremely well at home. Ports Authority vs. Real @ Banjul mini stadium One of the GFF League’s standout games, this encounter is given added weight after both sides suffered defeats last weekend. Despite winning the title for the 12th time in the 2013/14, the ‘whites’ ended the following seasons in acrimony. Unlike Ports who ended their five years wait for their 6th league trophy last season but have so far fell behind the pecking order. So expect a feisty rendezvous on Sunday afternoon.]]>