As they complete training sessions ahead of tomorrow’s important friendly against New Zealand, the Gambian players have sounded so impressed with their preparations that they are already looking forward to a maiden Afcon with a bang.
Speaking to the GFF media at training site, hot striker Assan Ceesay currently in devastating from at his Zurich FC side, said the camp in Dubai is an important step to get the players to study each other to gel ahead of the important assignment in Cameroon.
The player, who has already accounted for 11 national team goals, some of them crucial match winners, said with the whole group working hard at this camp, there is no doubt that he would be more motivated to transfer his club form to country. ”It is always a pleasure to work for my country and we have a lot to work on. It is also good that am in top form and I can bring that to the national team. But also, as a team we have quality players and I believe that we have a team that can do something,” he said.
The 27-year-old said all must be aware that the Afcon is just at the corner and work hard towards it. ” We have to build our combination and tactic and I can say we are getting there as you can see in our trainings. We are getting to know each other more and I believe with that spirit when we go the Afcon, everyone will do his best,” Assan said.
Another forward, Baboucar Trawalley (Steve) said the Dubai camp is useful both for individual and collective preparations. “Obviously this camp is important because we are knowing each other and the tactics the coaches are trying to implement to make a strong team out of us. It is going to be our first Afcon and we want to go and show the world what they are missing. Personally, I am working on myself trying to improve my game day by day. From this training camp everyone is motivated and working hard so that we can make our families and country proud when we go out to the Afcon,” he said.
Midfield giant Sulayman Marreh came next and he told the GFF media] no one should expect any easy job at the Afcon. “Being our first time, we must know it will not be easy and that’s why this camp is important so that we can get to know each other well and learn to work together,” Steve said.
Striker Lamin Jallow too said he is very hopeful about the many quality strikers in team. “We have a good team with lot of strikers. Personally, I am always pleased to play for my country,” he said. The team will take on New Zealand, twice world cup qualifiers and the current champions of the Fifa confederation of Oceania.
