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eire
Zimbabwe
28 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Jul 2007 : 20:50:04
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The recent failure of the Gambia U.20's team to do well in Canada prompts me to raise the name of a man who did more than most to raise the standard of Sport, and football in particular, in our beloved country. I refer of course to the legend himself, Fr. Joseph Gough.
I was fortunate to be a student of SAHS during his tenure and was amazed at how much this man did to promote sport not only in SAHS but in The Gambia as a whole. He was involved in promoting Football, Basketball, Athletics and Volleyball etc. He produced stars such as the present Hon. Minister for Youth, Sports, Culture and Religious Affairs, Sheik Omar Faye, Bye Malleh Wadda, Aziz Corr, Joe Sambou, Baboucar Foon, Peter and John Prom, Samba Faal etc and I could go on with endless names. He was also the founder of both Young Africans and Roots Football Clubs. What a loss he has been to the country!
I hear he is still very active in sports in Ireland. Gambia's loss, Ireland's gain. No wonder he was honoured by The Gambia recently. I have not had the pleasure of meeting him for a long time as I am now living outside the country with my family, but look forward to meeting him face to face one day and saying a big Thank You' for the influence he was in my life. He took me into SAHS from Junior Secondary School and also paid for my school fees. He did the same for many others.
Now is also the time to bring him back to The Gambia and ask him to work at nurturing our future talented athletes and footballers. Coach Bono Johnson was a past student of SAHS. He needs someone like Fr. Gough working along side him and guiding him. We are paying large sums of money to foreign coaches who do not know the country or its people or footballers. Here is a man who has proven that he does.
I now ask Sheik Omar Faye to open the gates of Gambia once more to his former Principal, Teacher, Mentor and Coach.
What do you fellow Gambians think?
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2007 : 22:07:32
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| Sounds like he was a good man,and would doubtless be a great coach for Gambia for the U20 team,I am also interested in sports in Zambabwe in these hard times wht is happening there? |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2007 : 22:50:43
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Koto Eire its true that Fr. Gough has done alot for our sportsmen and sports in The Gambia. However it is not fair to say that the U-20 didn't do well in Canada. In my opinion the mere fact that they qualified for the first time in our history is already a great feat. No gambian team has ever reach that stage save the u-17s and go beyond the first round. So it was success, though we aim higher next time round.
Fr.Gough has done his bit and we are happy that he is enjoying his retirement in his home country. We have to grow as a nation and cease to be fed for life. Fr.Gough was a missionary he did his bit let Gambians also do their bit. In a sense his presence is still felt, since his proteges in the like of Malleh Wadda, Bono , Omar Faye et al are within sports entity.
The Gambia Forward Ever, Backward Never |
madiss |
Edited by - MADIBA on 13 Jul 2007 23:00:25 |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2007 : 23:27:27
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quote:
Originally posted by MADIBA
Koto Eire its true that Fr. Gough has done alot for our sportsmen and sports in The Gambia. However it is not fair to say that the U-20 didn't do well in Canada. In my opinion the mere fact that they qualified for the first time in our history is already a great feat. No gambian team has ever reach that stage save the u-17s and go beyond the first round. So it was success, though we aim higher next time round.
Fr.Gough has done his bit and we are happy that he is enjoying his retirement in his home country. We have to grow as a nation and cease to be fed for life. Fr.Gough was a missionary he did his bit let Gambians also do their bit. In a sense his presence is still felt, since his proteges in the like of Malleh Wadda, Bono , Omar Faye et al are within sports entity.
The Gambia Forward Ever, Backward Never
The problem is we have endless numbers of Moses but very few Joshuas. Lets look at Mrtin Luther King's speech in 1968, a day before he died:
"Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."
Here he was invoking Biblical story of Moses and his emancipation of his people when he was a few miles away from Canaan from where he could see the promised land but he died before reching the land. It was his briother Joshua who fulfilled the Divined Word.
It goes to show that notyhing comes free. We had Father Gough(Moses) but we had no Joshua to continue the legacy.
Madida
Your posting is true and true Biblical wisdom. We must create our own Joshuas if we want to see the promised land.
Could Martin Luther King be also yearning for a Joshua that he could not see around him to take over? History will tell.
Its the same problem with the issue of the African Union. We had three Moses in 1957: Kwammeh Nkrummah, Seku Ture and Patrice Lumumba and with their deaths, no Joshuas to deliver us to the Promised Land. The era of a Manna from Heavenn is long gone.
Wishful thinking has never, throughout history transformed societies unless that is translated into action. Because if mere wishes could transform people from proverty, then beggars would have been the richest. They have more wishes than any group in society.
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2007 : 01:35:46
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| Konds great words of wisdom there. Its a paradox as the poineer priests/missionaries are gradually being replaced by Gambians in the Parishes and Mission schools yet there is still no Gambian 'Fr.Gough' or Joshua to continue to take it from where Fr. Gough the lengendary Irish priest left off. That's not to say other Gambians from other denominations can't succeed Fr.Gough. The likes of O.B. Conateh (fisco)have done some good from the private initiatives as well. |
madiss |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jul 2007 : 18:15:08
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Madiba
NJOLEN NYAKI (Fulani)
Direct translation is: "Lets enter like bees". This is a secret Fulani code phrase hardly spoken. Do you know ehen its is spoken? |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2007 : 22:38:50
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quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
Madiba
NJOLEN NYAKI(Fulani)
Direct translation is: "Lets enter like bees". This is a secret Fulani code phrase hardly spoken. Do you know ehen its is spoken?
Madiba
Do you want to tell me you dont know NJOLEN NYAKI |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2007 : 23:35:32
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| Konds can't you leave us in peace? You see Pularr is a very poetic language. I know you don't have a sweet flowing language like ours. |
madiss |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jul 2007 : 00:07:16
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quote:
Originally posted by MADIBA
Konds can't you leave us in peace? You see Pularr is a very poetic language. I know you don't have a sweet flowing language like ours.
You are right its very poetic and full of riddles.
But please expalin NJOLEN NYAKI |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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