* Argentina are the new leaders of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.
* New entries in the top ten are
Romania (8th, up 4), England (9th, up 6) and Wales, whose win over Belgium in the EURO 2016 qualifiers has seen them surge 12 positions to tenth place.
* The biggest mover by point this month is Wales (up 226 points)
* The biggest mover by rank this month is Belize (up 37 ranks)
* Germany made the biggest drop by point this month (down 364 points)
* Central African Republic made the biggest drop by rank this month (drop down 29 ranks)
Gambia men’s volleyball team are handed a tough task in their first ever appearance in the men indoor 2015 All Africa Games. The Gambia are up against five-time champions Egypt, while they are also up against 2011 host Mozambique and the 2015 hosts Congo Brazzaville, the other opponents will be Botswana and Nigeria in pool A of the 11th edition of All Africa Games 2015 in Congo Brazzaville. Gambia claimed silver in Zone 2 qualifiers in Cape Verde from a pool that comprises of Senegal, Mali, Mauritania and Sierra Leone.
Gambia would surely be the dark horses in the pool and will be looking for their first continental silverware. The enthusiasm of the Gambian team emerged from the re-energized Gambian national federation that recently changed leadership. Gambia ranked 2nd in Zone II has recently organized two coaching courses level I and level II to enhance the capabilities of the technicians and that has proved productive in the country’s recent exploits in Zone II. The head coach of the Gambian team Ebrima Nyassi reacted to the draw saying they would come all out to cause upsets.
‘’We are going to play against diverse nations with different styles of modern volleyball, so we have to prepare expansively. There is no need to explain that we will be competing against teams from the best volleyball nations in Africa. I am pleased that we will get to know all the renowned style and background of African volleyball. Nyassi said’’ he went on to dismiss Egypt’s dominance in the Games. “we respect Egypt for the fact that they are one of the most decorated team in the Games history but we can create upsets”.
Gambia men’s volleyball team
Senior player Sanu Secka believed that this is an opportunity for Gambia to be known in global volleyball. ‘’We work hard to book qualifications, now we are in Congo and the target is the gold medal’’ the attacker said.
All Africa Games will be hosted by Congo Brazzaville September 4 to 19, 2015 where the 12 teams of each category will be divided into 2 preliminary pools, each playing a round robin and the top 2 teams qualify to the semifinal. The winner of Pool A meets the second of Pool B and the winner of Pool B faces the second of Pool A in the semis where the winners qualify to the final and the losers play for the bronze medal. The preliminary rounds for the All Africa Games will be played in two groups constituted as follows:
Hosts Senegal and emerging Gambia men and women teams proceeded to the second phase of the CAVB Continental Cup after both countries were ranked at the top 2 positions in Zone 2 Pool 2 of the competition held a in Dakar, Senegal this weekend.
Zone II sub-zonal pool 2 continental qualifications for beach volleyball came to a historic end after Gambian teams booked qualification to the proper zonal qualification for Rio Olympics in 2016. Gambia topped the Women ranking after beating Senegal in the tournament. Gambia gained 12 points from 4 games leaving the host with 0 points. Mauritania and Cape Verde did not present Women teams consequently as Gambia became the new leaders in Zone II pool 2 female standings.
Gambian women’s team
Saffie Sawaneh, Abie Kujabi, Sainabou Tambedou and Fatoumatta Ceesay adore the national colors in front of hundreds of spectators. This is the first time Gambia will be defeating Senegal in such competition and in head to head victories. Gambia men teams were defeated by the host in the round robin securing 9 points with the Gambia 3 points. Gambia bounces back in day two of the competition by overcoming Cape Verde 3-1 in four games thus ending their campaign with 12 points from 8 games. Malick Jammeh, Babucarr Jarra, Alieu Barry and Pa Ali Njie gave Gambia the historic victories. Senegal gained qualification after beating Cape Verde Islands to top the standings with 15 points whiles Cape Verde earned 6 points.
“I am proud of my ladies,” said Gambian coach Alagie Babou Joof. “We managed to control the game with good balance of threat and control. Our strategy to control the Senegalese player worked very well. Our target is to see Gambia in Rio for the Olympic Games and today I am the proudest Gambian,” Joof concluded.
“I usually need some time at the start of the games to inspire and motivate my team mates,” Malick Jammeh captain of Gambia said. “However my teammate helped me a lot to play on my best level and today we are thinking of the zonal level and we are not stopping there, raising the national colors of the Gambia is our target now.”
The Gambian men’s team
The Senegalese coach Seck Mbye applauded the Gambia team and said he was surprised wth the performance Gambia showed. “To be honest Gambia was tipped as the underdogs but they proved everyone wrong so congratulations to the Gambia Mbye stated.”
Gambia women team was decorated with gold medal and trophy and the Senegalese counterparts with silver medalist. The Senegalese men team wins the gold medals with a trophy and Gambia were runner up with silver and Cape Verde got the bronze
The competition referees
Men’s Results
Senegal v Gambia
Gambia A v Senegal B 2-1 (21-17, 17-21, 15- 10)
Gambia B v Senegal A 0-2 (11-21, 17-21)
Senegal A v Gambia A 2-1 (19-21, 21-19, 15-13)
Senegal B v Gambia B 2-1 (16-21, 21-17, 15-11)
Gambia v Cape Verde
Gambia A v Cape Verde B 2-1 (21-19, 21-23, 15-10)
Gambia B v Cape Verde A 1-2 (21-17, 17-21, 5-15)
Gambia A v Cape Verde A 2-0 (21-16, 21-12)
Gambia B v Cape Verde B 2-1(21-23, 21-17, 15-9)
Senegal v Cape Verde
Senegal A v Cape Verde B 2-1 (16-21, 21-13, 15-13)
Cape Verde A v Senegal B 2-0 (21-16, 21-17)
Senegal A v Cape Verde A 2-0 (21-18, 21-12)
Senegal B v Cape Verde B 0-2 (19-21, 21-23)
Women Results
Gambia v Senegal
Gambia B v Senegal A 2-0 (21-17, 25-23)
Gambia A v Senegal B 2-0 (21-7, 21-6)
Gambia A v Senegal A 2-1 (21-18, 11-21, 15-9)
Gambia B v Senegal B 2-0 (22-20, 21-10)
Gambia men and women beach volleyball teams will leave the country on Thursday for Dakar to take part in the sub zonal Pool 2 qualification round for Rio Olympic Games in 2016. Gambia will be partaking in its first international championships since the beginning of the Yunusa Barry’s led-executive. The qualification will be played between 4 nations in Senegal as the host, Cape Verde, Mauritania and The Gambia. The tournament was originally scheduled to be hosted by Gambia but Gambia was denied to host the tournament at the scheduled dates because of the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa. The host country was later changed to Senegal and will be held from 22 January to 26 January 2015 in Senegal.
“We are all ready and well prepared to represent the nation in this momentous event,” Alfousainey Jarju Secretary General of GVBA said. Jarju further stated the importance of the competition, “This is part of the plan to send our national teams to all the continental competitions and we are anticipative that we will come out with an excellent result.
Gambia women team prepares
Gambia National Olympic Committee would be providing the funding for the travel and needed logistics to support and warrant smooth participation of the team in this very imperative competition. The team will leave to Dakar on 22nd January and the tournament will kick off on 23rd January.
“We are going to play against different nations with different styles of modern volleyball, so we have to prepare comprehensively. There is no need to explain that we will be competing against teams from the best volleyball nations in Africa. I am pleased that we will get to know all the famous style and background of African beach volleyball. I am proud and expectations are really high,” Malick Jammeh a senior player said.
Babucarr Jarra another selected player further thank the new executive for the moral and financial support rendered and the trust they bestowed on him to carry out the national duty. We are representing our country in the Olympic qualifies, where unfortunately I never played, so I will have to be humble and to play with respect and pride.”
Gambia during training
Abie Kujabi of GAF said it is a very tough challenge for them. “We will face great nations with rich backgrounds in African beach volleyball and huge volleyball schools. But still see this championship as a great moment for us. It will be a challenging experience for us-the players, the coaching staffs, and the board and of course our country she stated.
Selected players for women’s team are Abie Kujabie (GAF), Saffie Sawaneh (GAF), Sainabou Tambedou (Gamtel/Gamcel), Fatoumatta M. Ceesay (Interior) and for the Men’s team Malick Jammeh (Old Jeshwang), Babucarr Jarra (Old Jeshwang), Pa Ali Njie (Serre Kunda East) and Alieu Barry (Gamtel/Gamcel).
newfanzone 