Contacted for comments on the Gambia’s maiden appearance in the world cup as an official, Omar Sey said Gassama symbolizes the great work that has been done in developing Gambian refereeing by all who served football here.
Sey who spent 12 years in Caf as referees committee chairman, another ten years in Fifa’s referee committee as well as four years as the first and only African ever in the international referee board, said Papa Gassama will certainly be given a central role in this world cup. “I mean it is clear he was selected not as standby ref but as a referee and God forbid only sickness or injury can prevent that. I have never known a time when Gambians are so excited about their referees as it is the case with Papa,”he said .
On how he feels about this development, Mr Sey said: ‘This is what I have been waiting for and what I have always desired to see Gambians officiate at the world cup. But it must be said that Gambian referees have been to places. They have been to African Nations Cup, et cetera and Modou Sowe would have been at the World Cup in Germany had he not been injured,” he said.
Mr Sey paid tribute to the good Gambian referees have done and continue to do on the global stage.
He mentioned legends like Dodou Njie (Baraks), Badou Jassey, Alhagie Faye, Malick Sillah and others.
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