Basketball in Africa

Officials of the Gambia Basketball Association at the weekend pays homage to former referee Seth Williams after the United States Peace Corps' volunteer announced his departure from the country following three years of service to the GBA.
Williams who goes by his Gambian sobriquet Lamin Jaiteh was posted in Dobong village of the Central River Region as an agriculturist but has also volunteered to work with the Gambia Basketball Association as a referee, and has definitely left a mark in the development of the sport in the country under the leadership of Muhammed Papa Njie.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Observer Sports at the weekend, Williams who also worked with the YMCA and the Kotu basketball team says he was sad to be leaving the Gambia having built a strong bond with several Gambians. He added that, his love and knowledge of the game, he deems it necessary to offer help to the GBA.
Williams who added that he has learned about cultural diversity in the Gambia added that he has now seen the real reason why the Gambia is known as the smiling coast of Africa. He added that, Gambians are loving, caring and nice people. "The benefit I learned from my stay in The Gambia will make a lot of good impact in my life, among them are the importance of family and that I want to take back home," he added, while urging the country's basketball to keep practicing, be obedient, hardworking, diligent and understanding so as to achieve their goals. "Though the association is still very young, it is heading to the right direction," he added, while hailing the GBA officials for their support. He also thanked the Jaiteh Kunda family of Dobong for showing him love and care while he stayed with them. "I have made families and friends and am really going to miss them, they are my family now hopefully I will be able to see them again Insaallahu," he added.
The Gambia Basketball Association in a show of appreciation to his efforts in the development of the sport awarded Williams a certificate and undisclosed materials as a presents.
His sending off was also organised to coincide with a domestic basketball game. Games were played between Wednesday and Friday where Wallidan beat Lamin by 99 points to 55. Wallidan also defeated Brikama by 60 points to 45 while St. Augustine's were given the points without kicking a ball after Lamin failed to show up for the game. In Saturday's games, Gambia Armed Forces secured 32 points to 19 defeat of Kotu in the female category while Old School were defeated 48 points to 37 by Kotu in the male category.