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kisley
United Kingdom
214 Posts |
 Posted - 11 May 2006 : 21:29:04
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why does no one post anything about wrestling, I thought it was your national sport.
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Momodou
Denmark
11744 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2006 : 22:03:34
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Kisly, Here is my champion. His name in the arena was Barras and used to be a champion of his time.  |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kisley
United Kingdom
214 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2006 : 22:29:15
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| hello momodue, Ive just been reading on the internet about Jalang the Senegambian wrestling icon from the 1980s, its a really sad story. But I cant find anything on Barras Im afraid. Can you give me some info on Gambian wrestling or maybe direct me to a web site. Thanks |
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Momodou
Denmark
11744 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2006 : 23:28:17
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Jalang's time was after Barras; in fact he was trained by Barras. Whilst most wrestlers are either left or right handed, Barras could wrestle both ways.
Barras won the first Gambian National wrestling championship flag in 1975. He was the champion from 1975 to 1977 before he moved to Denmark. The strongest wrestlers at the time were Bobo Jawo, Duwanji, Demba Nankeh (the one who gave Barras tough time), Boto, and Bala. This is a personal photo from 1974 as you can see from the quality. Barras's real name is Yangkuba Sambou.
No, I don't know of any website on Gambian wrestling.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kisley
United Kingdom
214 Posts |
Posted - 12 May 2006 : 19:20:55
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thanks Momodou, hope to go to Gambia sometime this year and would love to go to a wrestling tournament or even a football match. Im a boxing girl myself and my hero is Mohammed Ali. I also cant wait for the world cup, although I dont think we will do very well, one of our key players is injured. Plus the English players lack passion - they are paid too much money. And as for Beckham, he is definatly over rated. Anyways thanks Momodou - i was starting to ramble a bit. |
Edited by - kisley on 12 May 2006 19:22:09 |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 12 May 2006 : 20:45:54
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| what happened to Jalang?. |
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Newfy
Western Samoa
462 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2006 : 05:09:37
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Momodou...Hey, this is interesting historical stuff. cool photo of Barras. this kind of stuff would make a good documentary.
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Newfy
Western Samoa
462 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2006 : 05:15:05
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The only kind of wrestling i ever see was (Wolof called "barri"). Barras must be one serious wrestler, yeah?
Is there any where one can find his history... |
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Momodou
Denmark
11744 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2006 : 14:52:53
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quote:
Originally posted by njucks
what happened to Jalang?.
Njuks, Jalang passed away in 2004. I made a search on him in the Gambia-l archives and found the following tribute to him.
Joe Sambou wrote:
"Folks, some days back I had informed the readership about the miserable condition Jalang was in the last time I saw him in Gambia in 2000. Below is a very sad recap of how the man brought us joy as a nation and took the Gambia far, only to be neglected by our government, GWA, and worst of all, used and dejected by the two Don Kings in the brothers of GEORGY AND RIAD AZIZ. The paper left the part that duo contributed to the servitude that Jalang lived. They were his so-called handlers/promoters and they gambled on his labor, negotiated behind the scenes and sucked every penny leaving him trinkets. After his victories, they gave him some alcohol, with a
little money which does not last the night because of the many friends and family around. While we pay tribute to this man, we better also talk about the injustice levied while he lived. May his soul rest in peace and may others learn from his tragedy. Please read on."
Tribute to Jalang, the Great Wrestler Icon of the Gambia
The Independent (Banjul)
September 20, 2004
Posted to the web September 20, 2004
Lamin M Fatty
Banjul
The Sanneh family last Sunday paid tribute to Jalang the Senegambian
wrestling icon of the 1980s. Jalang was a wrestling icon who took the name of The Gambia to higher heights.
Jalang started his wrestling career in 1981 and was invited and recruited by The Gambia Wrestling Association. In 1982, he was selected among other wrestlers to contest in Guinea Conakry for the annual Amilcar Cabral Wrestling Competition. This competition was a regional activity with Senegal, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Mali, Guinea Bissau, Togo and other African countries participating.
Due to his outstanding performances, Jalang won the trophy and was cheered upon arrival at the Banjul International Airport. In Conakry, he was given the opportunity to meet with former Guinean President Ahmed Sekou Toure.
Again in 1988, The Gambia's wrestling icon, Jalang led another wrestling team to Tunisia for an All-African Championship. This delegation headed for Rome-Italy where they spent three weeks in a training camp. The king of the arena again won a gold medal with his team. In the same year, he represented the entire African continent at the Seoul Olympic Games for Greek-Roma wrestling style. He won trophies and medals. These are some of the main achievements of this great wrestler.
However, his one-year anniversary was observed on the 12th September at his family compound. The family paid tribute to the icon of The Gambia wrestling legendary.
According to his brother Tumani Sanneh the man died a lonely man leaving nothing in terms of wealth or even friends. Family members will always remember his legendary as he was one of the best and most famous man of our family. Jalang was betrayed by the country he tirelessly promoted internationally. "He won lot of trophies and medals for The Gambia but he was woefully betrayed by the country" Tumani pointed out. Tumani also cited one of Jalang's trips during which he won a trophy but was never allowed to shed eye on the trophy, emphasising that his brother a fervent patriotic was
never allowed to meet the then President Mr. Jawara.
According to Tumani, Jalang once said to him after one his trips before dying: "My championship was fruitless and this trip marks the beginning of hardship for me. I am a lame man whom even beggars on the streets are better than. Both the Wresting Federation and the GNOC neglected me. I was left in a horrible state of thinking and illness and just counting my days. My younger brother, please forgive me for whatever I have done to you. I hand over my family to you. Forgive me for whatever I have done to you. Please look after my children and take care of their education and I pray to God to
guide you and my offspring and the family at large."
Tumani told The Independent that Jalang died a broken heart. The Sanneh family will continue to weep for him not just because he departed but also because he was a man who did something great for his country.
Jalang Sanneh is survived by six children, a wife and five brothers.
MAY GOD THE ALMIGHTY REWARD HIM WITH HIS BOUNTY AND MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE. AMEN.
Another tribute was written by Oko Drammeh and can be read HERE.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11744 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2006 : 15:16:12
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quote:
Originally posted by Newfy Barras must be one serious wrestler, yeah?
Is there any where one can find his history...
Newfy, Barras's history is still waiting to be written. I forgot to mention that he used to be a lifesaver at Fajara Beach and was always in top form because of his swimming daily. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2006 : 16:55:42
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thank you Momodou. i knew him and infact i was in the gambia dont know how i missed that.its very sad.MHSRIPP.
do you know what happened to the others Dubalesss. i think there was another called Manga or something. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11744 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2006 : 22:16:34
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quote:
Originally posted by njucks
do you know what happened to the others Dubalesss. i think there was another called Manga or something.
Njuks, I don't know but I will ask Barras the next time I speak with him. He now lives in Heslingborg. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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sab
United Kingdom
912 Posts |
Posted - 15 May 2006 : 19:36:02
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Greetings Kisley, Do you box yourself? I assume from your posting that you have not visited The Gambia before? They do have a popular boxing club, it is in Lamin, but I will find out exact for you. We did follow boxing until Michael Watson had his tragic fight, it dwindled after that and when Nigel Benn retired, I lost the interest. We did take Gambian visitors to a Chris Eubank fight at White City but they were not impressed (neither were we) I remember being in The Gambia many years ago (about 1990) when Mike Tyson had a match with Frank Bruno, it took us three days to find out who won the fight!
Do you follow Muhammad Ali daughter Laila?
sab |
The world would be a poorer place if it was peopled by children whose parents risked nothing in the cause of social justice, for fear of personal loss. (Joe Slovo - African revolutionary) |
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kisley
United Kingdom
214 Posts |
Posted - 17 May 2006 : 12:23:17
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| Hello Sab, I have been to Gambia only once, and didnt know much about the country Im afraid to say. But being on this site has helped me tremendously, and I dont feel as ignorant about the country or people. Pls can you find out where the boxing club is in Lamin, I would love to see it. You are right about Chris Eubank, Ive never been impressed by him either , nor Frank Bruno come to that. Theres just something about Ali, he is so charismatic (as well as being a brilliant boxer), and stands up for his principles - I would love to meet him one day - we all have our dreams |
Edited by - kisley on 17 May 2006 13:21:48 |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 17 May 2006 : 13:41:01
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ksiley Sab, kindered spirits, I went to vegas and saw Lenno Lewis fight, we should start a fan club, boxing united.
Is it possible to buy tickets to see the wrestling matches or boxing!!. I would love to take some of my gambian friends to one of the events |
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