Pierre Gomez wants to win Wafu Cup to make up for Rwanda exit

The Gambia Under 20 team captain, Pierre Gomez, has told his team-mates to do all they could to excel in the maiden Wafu Cup competition, and in effect, make up for their shock exit in the qualifiers for the 2009 African Youth Championships finals in Rwanda.

The Banjul Hawks defender was part of the Gambian team that suffered a back-to-back defeat against Ghana Black Satellites last month in the final qualifying round of Rwanda finals, and as he reflects on the setback, Gomez believes the Wafu competition, which will kick off today in Nigeria, is a bright chance for the Darling Scorpions to repaint their image.

“It’s disheartening that we have not qualified for the Under 20 Championships in Rwanda. But this tournament Wafu Cup] is a bright chance for us to prove our worth,” Gomez told Observer Sports at the training ground yesterday.

Gomez and his colleagues will play the same Ghanaian side in their final group clash on Tuesday, and the former Under 17 ace has warned that their main focus should be on  the first match against Guinea first before thinking about Ghana.

“I know we have a born to pick with Ghana, but we have make it step by step. Right now we have to focus on our opening match against Guinea today. We need the three points and we have to work for it.”

“We have finally settled down after a marathon journey, and so far we have no difficulty. We are in a save hands and the accommodation and feeding are perfect.”

So the ball is now in our court to work hard and achieve our purpose of coming to Nigeria – to win the WAFU Cup and restore confidence in the team,” he said.