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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Apr 2020 : 15:27:54
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Our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the man who has done more than anyone for Gambian Football Alh. O.B Conateh commonly known as Fisco Conateh, born 1937 who passed away on the 4th April 2020.
May Allah (SWT) grant him in Jannah.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2020 : 15:34:36
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OB Conateh -The Man Who Never Played Football but Yet Sold His Properties to Develop Gambia’s Game
Foroyaa: April 6, 2020
Floodgate of condolences greet the death of virtual anyone. However, the ones being hurled at OB Conateh after his death today is beyond emotional.
Very typical of Gambians, legends are not celebrated until their passing. Talk of those who spurred Gambian football and his name will be the first to be reeled off the list.
He never played the round object but dared to invest almost religiously in a sport he never donned a jersey of but yet believed in so much.
Born November 1st 1937 and transitioning from St Augustine High School before taking up training at the United Africa Company in Lagos, Nigeria, Fisco as he is known to loved ones and OB to the football world, Conateh returned to serve as manager of Gambia Fisheries Limited.
He thrived in business but is popular most for his illustrious contributions in football. Interestingly, he had only ever taken part in cricket and cycling.
However, for his love for football spanning back in 1969, he would push for the founding of a football club today known as Wallidan spurred on by an army of young boys’ affection for the round object who’re today perhaps granddads.
Talk of domestic football success, Wallidan represent all of that, winning a combined sixteen domestic first division trophies with the sole gongs missing in their trophy cabinet being the Caf Champions League and Caf Confederation Cup -trophies they’ve made tries for but never slalomed past the group stages............
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2020 : 15:37:11
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Late Alh. O.B. Conateh laid to rest
The Point: Monday, April 6, 2020
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/late-alh-ob-conateh-laid-to-rest
The founding father of Wallidan Football Club and former president of the then Gambia Football Association (GFA), late Alh. Ousman Basi Conateh (Fisco) was laid to rest yesterday Sunday morning at the Jeshwang cemetery.
Hundreds of mourners across all sectors paid their last respects on Sunday after the late football patron died on Saturday after battling with long illness.
The late O.B. Conateh, up to the time of his death, was the Honourary President of Gambia Football Federation. He had previously served as the President of the then Gambia Football Association from 1993 until his voluntary retirement in 2001 when he completed two terms in the Presidency.
He served WAFU ten years as Vice President and member of CAF subcommittee for competitions for several years.
Fisco was born on 1 November 1937 in Banjul, The Gambia. A household name in The Gambia and around the sub-region, he was an energetic young man who would later become an icon in Gambian football.
The founding father of Wallidan FC attended St. Augustine’s High School and had a professional training in merchandise, marketing and entrepreneurship at the United Africa Company (UAC) in Lagos, Nigeria, where he was later made the manager of Kingsway supermarket, one of the subsidiaries of UAC.
He was also the Administrative Manager of The Gambia Fisheries Ltd. and the sole owner and Chief Executive Officer of the National Partnership Enterprises (NPE) Sea Food Processing Company and sole owner and chairman of O.B. Trawlers Agency.
Fisco won several awards in and outside of the country. In 1986, he was decorated with the prestigious honour of the Insignia of Member of the Republic of The Gambia (MRG); Officer of the National Order of the Republic of Cote d’ Ivoire in 1995; inducted into the Hall of Fame as National Cycling Champion, International Cricketer.
For the outstanding contribution to the development of youth and sports in 1999; he also won the Millennium Award for Excellence by The Gambia National Olympic Committee in both 2000 and 2001, he was honoured with the Achievement Award for Excellence by The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Insignia of the National Order of the Republic of The Gambia (ORG). In 2007, he was made Commander of the National Order of the Republic of Cote d’ Ivoire.
On January 4th 2020, the late Alh. OB was decorated by the Gambia Football Federation with a Life Time Achievement Award at its first ever Football Recognition Night. Credited for his selfless services to not only football but lives, livelihood and entrepreneurship, the late Fisco will ever be remembered by The Gambia, Africa and the world at large.
The former NPE Chief Executive was also in December 2019 decorated by the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) with a Lifetime Achievement award reposed on him as one of the country’s eldest and respected men of repute and philanthropy in both social and entrepreneurship gestures. The GCCI award would be the Chamber’s second on the former GFA capo. Until his death over the weekend, the late OB Conateh was the Chairman of the GFF Legends Identification Committee.
Fisco never played football though but has always been a keen admirer and in 1969, through one of his many philanthropic gestures, founded what is regarded as one of the most successful stories in Gambian football, the birth of Wallidan Football Club. It was in the summer of that year that some boys sought assistance to form a football club and gave the birth of the Blues.
A baron of sports and football in particular, an athlete during his youth days and later an administrator par excellence, he was a devastating cricketer and an ex-national cycling champion. A true entrepreneur in all definitions, the former legend had done so much for the development of sports, particularly football in The Gambia and beyond and has impacted positively on the lives of many.
Author: Arfang M.S. Camara |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Obituary: OB Conateh also known is Fisco Conateh
