Veteran sports journalist, Tijan Masanneh Ceesay, has refuted claims that Sang Marie Sambou, is the first Gambian to be award a FIBA badge to referee and also serve as an instructor.
These came twenty-four hours after news spread widely on the Gambian media that Sang is the first FIBA referee and instructor in The Gambia.
Tijan wrote back to Nna Gambia News editor hours after the story captioned Sang Marie Sambou is Gambia’s first FIBA referee and instructor saying, “Research on that story on FIBA instructor more thoroughly. I believe a man named Moses Njie is the first FIBA Referee and instructor in Gambia. This was during my time,” he said.
He said Moses is the first and only Gambian to referee and African Cup final, 1977 in Guinea Conakry, it the host country against Senegal If you want an interview on Basketball in the 70's and 80's. He then challenge Nna Gambia News send me the questions relating to basketball within that period.
The veteran sports journalist who wrote books and papers about Gambian sports argued that the people who gave out the information did not know or don’t have the records.
“They got no records Bro. I have the records, I was Press Attache for The Gambia Basketball Federation under Alhagie Babou Cisse. The first FIBA referee and instructor, I know for a fact is Moses Njie.”
Masanneh described Moses as a man always invisible out on the court. He added, Moses has officiated games all across West Africa.