Sports
BOTTROP AND SCANAID CRIES, BAKOTEH LAUGH AND LK SABIJI PROVES UNMATCHED IN SCHOOL ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPThe unexpected
last-ditch catastrophe that struck the defending champions Bottrop Technical
Senior Secondary School and Scanaid, turned out to be a blessing for Bakoteh Upper
and Senior Secondary School. Bakoteh had the last laugh and clinched their
first title in School Athletics Championship and Latrikunda Sabiji proved
unmatched and makes it six titles in a row in the Upper Basic category. Indications were
there that Bottrop would have defended their title considering their strength
or Scanaid Senior School would clinch the title as they defeated Bakoteh to
clinch the Region one title. Bakoteh couldn’t have hoped for anything better
than Bottrop and Scanaid’s suspension as they [Bakoteh] secured the crown at
the expense of the rest with the 100-thousand-dalasi prize money and winners
medal. Analysts have
boldly stated before the championship that at the Upper Basic School level, the
title was for Latrikunda and it turned just that way as they retain their title
with an unmatched performance that saw them amass 398 points. Other Schools might
claim they tried enough, but their efforts were not enough to stop Bakoteh and
Latrikunda. Charles Jow and
Saint Michael finished second and third respectively and pocketed 50 and 25
thousand dalasi. At the Upper Basic
School category, Barra-Essau finished as runners-up with 25 thousand price
money and Brikama U.B.S as the second runners-up received 15 thousand dalasis. If Bottrop and
Scanaid had not shed tears of despair, Bakoteh wouldn’t have shed tears of joy.
Whether they will win it again or not, Bakoteh are the legitimate champions for
the 2022 National Inter-Schools Athletics Championship. BOMBSHELL: There has never
been a shock in the championship than we saw with just three days to the
competition. The organisers dropped a bombshell that left the affected schools
shedding tears. Bottrop, Mahaad, Scanaid, Nusrat, Mingdaw among other schools
were suspended from participating for using ineligible athletes during the
regional championship. This was a shock for the entire athletics family, such a
bold decision came as a surprise, but school authorities say it was aimed to
“sanitize” the championship. UNMATCHED PERFORMANCE: Winning an athletics
title will require energy, consistency and athleticism. That was what the
winners combined to display an unmatched performance which saw them secure the
titles with the widest of point difference. For Latrikunda
Sabiji it was an easy ride in virtually all the events. If one thinks they are
at their worst, that is when they finished second in the race. LK put together
a formidable sprint and middle-distance team that scooped almost all the events
as they amassed 398 points, 206 points more than second-place Barra-Essau who
secured 192 points. A lucky performance
can't earn one such incredible points. Latrikunda were simply
irresistible. In the senior
category, Bakoteh were equally above the rest. Their male team sometimes will
have to negotiate their way in some events and miss some. For the girls, it was
a clear victory all through, from the 100m, 200m, 1,500m, 300, 4x400, and Medley
relay. Binta Jallow and co were just no match to the rest. This was justified
by the 365 points they secured, leaving a gap of 181 points from second place
Charles Jow who recorded 184 points. OUTSTANDING ATHLETES: The School
Athletics always unravel bright potentials in athletics and the 2022 edition
has seen an increase even though some previous performers have stayed defiant
in their various events. With some bullet-like movements, Sitta Jarju, Isatou
Gibba, Halimatou Saho all of Latrikunda Sabiji UBS were simply not at the same
level as the rest of the girls in the sprint events as they emerged first
anytime they stood on the tracks. In the
middle-distance events, Mariama Barry of LK Sabiji proved energetic to win the
3000m girls open, while Sarjo Badjie of Arrangallen was the most energetic as
he scooped the goal medal in the 5000m open boys. Musa Kujabi of WYCE
Upper Basic School was one of the fastest sprinters in the boy’s category,
finishing first in the U-15 boys' category. At the senior
school category, the girls of Bakoteh [Binta Jallow and Mariama Camara] were
simply the best, the only position they settled for was the first position. If
you think Bakoteh are only good at sprinting, wait for their middle-distance
team. Safiatou Sanneh of Bakoteh Upper and Senior was the most energetic female
athlete. She finished first in the 1,500m and 3,000m open girls respectively.
Essau’s Amadou Sowe had the first laugh as he clinch the first gold medal at
the National Championship winning both the 5,000m and 1,500m open boys for
senior school. For some students,
this was their final season, but for some, they will have to return to see if
they can defend their crowns in the next championship. CHALLENGES: School sports might
have been doing well, but the nation is not doing enough in developing the
talents it has been and still producing. One might brag about Gina Bass for
passing through school sports, but the gap between her and the rest of the
athletes produced by the schools is immeasurable. The challenge has
been and remains the platform for developing young talents. “Our work stops at
producing athletes for the Gambia Athletics Association [GAA], but they’ve not
been doing enough. For athletics to develop in the country, there should be
proper structures in the country if we are truly serious about developing
athletics.” Ismaila Ceesay the President of Secondary School Sports said. The gap between
Region one and the rest of the Regions remains the same as the country’s only
track for athletics is situated in region one. This could be considered as a
total injustice for a Nation whose most outstanding athletes are usually drawn
from the rest of the regions. When are the
authorities going to show real commitment in addressing the persistent challenge? PLANS AHEAD: “This is what we
can do, to produce talents for the Athletics Association”, were the remarks of
Ismaila Ceesay the President of Secondary School Sports Association. In as much
as that might be right, school authorities might also be hold accountable for
not putting up enough strategies for the athletes they reserve the bragging
rights over. As if they were
told that they need to do more, the Secondary School Sports Association said
they are coming up with another competition – Regional Championship which will
bring together school-going athletes representing various regions in the
National Regional School Championship. But what next after
their academic careers, perhaps a question for GAA to answer. This could be
another competition for the nation to scout real raw potentials for better and
much-needed representation at the international level. It will be a
tragedy to see the talents of these school going students end after their grade
12. With the suspended schools set to return with ‘unstoppable force’ that
means more queens and kings on the tracks in the next edition and justice will
be served if realistic advances are put in place to help the passionate
athletes develop themselves at the end of their school careers.
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