Buba Star Janneh - Former Gunjur, Wallidan and Gambia Midfielder 

Former Gunjur midfielder, Buba Janneh, commonly known as Star Janneh, is backing Gunjur in the FiBank Super Nawettan Semi-final encounter against their sibling rivals from Sukuta, on Sunday, 29th October, at the Independence Stadium in Bakau. The former Gambia International and Wallidan FC midfielder, who is currently residing in Lagos, Nigeria, said he is expecting a keenly contested game on Sunday afternoon, and hopes Gunjur will emerge as winners. He was a key player in the famous Gunjur Dabanani team of the 1980's, whom he led alongside the likes of Babung Fatty, Foday Jabang, Lang Balling Touray (Boy Njie) and Solo Camara to name a few, to lift the Western Division's regional trophy in 1983, which involved Brikama, Siffoe and Sukuta among others. He agreed games like this ushers a degree of nostalgic feelings for him, but when questioned about disparity between his generation and the current crops, star showed great humility to desist all temptations to draw any comparison between the two, saying: "All what I want to say is that the football in Gunjur has improved tremendously under the current leadership and all of us are duty bound to support them and most importantly to guide the young players as they pursue their careers on and off the field. This is my main preoccupation and I am directing my energy towards that while others give their views on what my team in the 1980s accomplished or didn't accomplish."

Young Dabanani FC of Gunjur in the 1980's. Photo credit: Pa Mambuna Bojang

The Nigeria based Banker, also called on the players and the fans of both sides to remember the long standing tradition that exist between the two great communities and repeated that a game of football should not in anyway be the cause of breaking this tradition. He revealed the game posed a little dilemma for him personally as he recalled the great moments he had in the eighteen months had lived with his late grandmother in Sukuta while going to Gambia High School. "People of Sukuta have been extremely kind to those of us whose path passed through Dembadu and will never wish anything that will antagonise the great people of Sukuta, said Mr Janneh. "I still want Dabanani to win but more importantly I want all the players and the fans to remember the long standing tradition between these two great communities and a game of football should not in anyway be the cause of breaking this tradition. " Therefore I join Pa Mambuna Bojang and others to raise the awareness and advocate for a peaceful football match. Thank you Pa Mambuna for proactively dealing with the issue. "All I have to add, is also to thank the coaching staff and the management for putting Dabanani permanently on the map as the rising stars of the Gambian football. "I urge all of us to continue to support these young players so that they can realise their dreams regardless of the outcome of the next match," he added, before finally calling on the team's players to maintain discipline at all times in their search to become professional football players either in Gambia or beyond. "Discipline is the cornerstone and self confidence," he said. "I also urge those around them as managers, coaches and well wishers to guide these players and help them to be prepared for life after football." On a final note, the former star reaffirmed his confidence that Sunday's match will be keenly contested and problem free " I am confident that the match will be keenly contested and problem free, he said. Gunjur and Sukuta will be playing in the first of the two semi-finals on Sunday 29th October at the Independence Stadium in Bakau, from 4pm. Gunjur edged their rivals in the head-to-head chart for games between the two in the last decade, and they will hope they can achieve the same result as they did when the two teams met at the same stages last season, where the Dabanani team came on top in a penalty shootout, after the normal time finished one all.

 2017 Gunjur Super Nawettan Team to face Sukuta in the semi-finals on Sunday 29th October

See record of past games between the two, by Prince Emma between the year 2006 to 2016.

 2017 Sukuta Super Nawettan Team to face Gunjur on Sunday 29th October

Head to head Satistics 2006 -2010. 2006: Gunjur 2-1 Sukuta venue: Box bar - Musa Janneh(Balla) put Sukuta ahead with a header before Ousman Badjie alias Carsten Jancker scored a brilliant second half brace to turn the tie in favour of the Southerners favour. 2008: Gunjur 1-0 Sukuta venue: SK/West Park - Nine men Gunjur beat Sukuta by a goal, thanks to Yusupha Barrow's (Beck) lone goal, before he was later sent off along side Brufut based teammate, Pa Modou Jatta (Berbartov). 2009: Gunjur 1-1 Sukuta venue:SK/West Bakary Jatta's close range effort gave Gunjur lead before Nfansu Bojang levelled the scores. 2013: Gunjur 1-3 Sukuta venue: Stadium Goals from Lamin Zola Toure, Lamin Jobe and Tapha Sonko inspired Sukuta to triumph 3-1 against Gunjur Malang Jassey scored Gunjur's consolation. 2014: Gunjur 1-0 Sukuta venue: Box bar Simon Bass's lone goal was all but enough for Gunjur to seal a deserved 1- 0 victory. 

2016: Group stages, Gunjur 0-1 Sukuta Venue: Boxbar Babou sama scored the game's only goal with a glancing header. 2016: Semi final: Gunjur 1-1 Sukuta, venue SK/East Park Gunjur won 4-2 on penalties Omar S. Bah scored a stunner for Sukuta, before Mbemba Fatty levelled from a spot Kick before Gunjur prevailed in the shot-outs.