Following a tough encounter at the Manjai Park on Saturday, the football team of the University of The Gambia (UTG) defeated the Civil Service University (CSU) to lift the trophy of the first-ever Inter-Tertiary Football Champion
As the first tournament for tertiary institutions in the history of The Gambia, this contest for dominance among students from across universities and tertiary institutions was accompanied by great fanfare and friendly chaos throughout, as each match proved to be high-stakes.
Ultimately, the UTG and the CSU qualified for the grand finale, prepared to lock horns, each determined to take the trophy to their campus.
It was a tense but equally thrilling match. While the first half went without a goal, the UTG conceded shortly into the second half.
Showing great determination and relentless effort, they responded, with Alagie Joof firing the ball at the back of the opponents’ net with his first touch of the ball.
With the dramatic equaliser, no goal came through again, although both sides exhibited great athletic hunger and raw sporting resilience, leading to a penalty that ended 5-4 in favour of the UTG.
The dramatic comeback by the UTG was no accident, as they have been clinical from the outset, enabling their easy and comfortable sail to the final. That’s how they came. That’s how they conquered.
With the inaugural tournament of the Inter-Tertiary Football Championship successfully conducted, higher education students who are passionate about sports await the next edition.
Many hopes that the Championship will forge a smooth relationship among these students and also strengthen their bond through sportsmanship and athletic brotherhood, setting a stage for a new era in Gambia’s higher education.
The UTG also swept the Best Goal Scorer with Sarjo Jallow also being named Man of the Match at the final and the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament Osman Jammeh being praised too for his outstanding performance throughout.
