Message from the publisher

Ebrima Baldeh holding the Gambian flag


Dear reader,

Let me use this opportunity to thank all those who have one way or the other supported and encouraged me to continue publishing BALDEH BOLONG during the course of the year. Even though there were times I felt that I should give up due to one reason or the other.

At this time of the year many of you are either in your respective countries on break or abroad serving in the diplomatic arena. It has not been easy, just like life itself, but you managed to stay in touch thanks to the beauty of the Information Technology. Every year, we pray and thank God for giving us another opportunity to witness another year in our lifetime.

To those of you who are still praying for Allah's protection in your personal or official endeavours, I say you it will be well you by the grace of God.

Keep in touch and enjoy your life if you can spare time.


Ebrima Baldeh
Fula Bantang village, CRR

Guess who is right?

The small West African nation of Ivory Coast is currently led by two Presidents: one is Alassane Quattara and the other is President Laurent Gbagbo. Who is right and who is wrong?
Write and send your reactions.

WHEN WILL THIS HAPPEN AGAIN

THESE ARE INTERESTING AND STRANGE TIMES IN THE CONTEMPORARY HISTORY OF THE GAME OF FOOTBALL. UNLESS IF YOU REFUSE TO BE DRAGGED INTO THE UN-ENDING DEBATE ABOUT WHO BEST STRIKER IS, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT THE WORLD WAS LITERARY BOMBARDED WITH CAMPS BEATING THEIR CHEST THAT THEIR SIDE WILL WIN AT THE END OF THE DAY.




I'M REFERRING TO THE DUST THAT ACCOMPANIED THE S0-CALLED EL CLASSICO BETWEEN TWO OF THE BEST TEAMS IN THE WORLD - BARCELONA AND REAL MADRIB.

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON, REAL MADRID HAS NEVER BEEN DEFEATED, THAT SLENDER LEAD IN THE SPANISH LEAGUE SUDDENLY FALTERED ON A DAY THAT WAS CRUCIAL, THAT IS IF THEY ARE SERIOUS ABOUT WINNING THE LA LIGA. UNDER THE ARROGANT AND SENSATIONAL COACH JOSE MOURINHO, REAL MADRIB BELEIVE THEY ARE SURELY GOING TO GET IT - WIN ALL THAT IS THERE TO BE WON!. THE FIVE GOALS THAT ENTERED THE NET DID NOT ONLY SUCCEEDED IN HUMILIATING REAL, BUT EACH AND EVERY FAN WHO IS PASSIONATE ABOUT THE TEAM.

REAL COULDN'T SPARK AT ALL.

THAT NIGHT IN BARCA, THE REAL MADRIB BOYS FAILED MISERABLY TO SCORE, AND BARCA DID WHAT THEY WERE ASKED TO DO - HUMILIATE REAL AND SHOW THEM THAT ( THEY) THAT IS BARCA, ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD.

IN ENGLAND, THE PREMIERE LEAGUE IS MAKING EVERY ONE EXCITED THAT ANY TEAM THAT CAN LIFT THE TROPHY. CHELSEA HAS BEEN AT THEIR VERY BEST AT THE START OF THE SEASON, NOT ANYMORE, THE TEAM IS TRYING TO REDEFINE ITSELF AND CLOSE THAT GAP AND CONTINUE LEADING. WHAT IS HAPPENING AT CHELSEA PERHAPS DOVETAIL WITH WHAT SOME SOCIAL SCIENTIST EQUATE TO THIS CLASSIC EXAMPLE: 'ANYONE CAN STAY ON TOP, BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO BE THERE FOR SO LONG'

FIFA GOT IT RIGHT MAY BE.

All eyes were literary fixed on Zurich for all day long, but as soon as the announcements were made. The news was not at all surprising: Qatar has never had the opportunity to host the World Cup, now this wealthy middle eastern nation is going to do that in twelve years time. Russia is not famous especially when it comes to press freedom and democracy and the rule of law, but its billionaries are literary crazy about the game of football. Isn't it a good time for Russians to enjoy football fiesta at home?

As regard the other nations, at FIFA there is nothing like so-called dominant powers who try to elbow countries. No, it is about Fair Play, which is more or less about giving each and every nation the chance to host the World Cup.

Which is why England, South Korea, the United States and disappointingly Australia was equally ditched. While we are yet to know what precisely happened, but one thing we can speculate is that FIFA is trying to assert its voice tilting toward the direction of uncharted territories.

Except Australia, the other countries have at least even if was long time ago as in the case of England have hosted the WORLD CUP. So it is time to give chance to those who have never hosted the WORLD CUP.

A Letter from London: Don't comment

Hi Ebrima

I have been wondering why you have not been blogging of late. I occasionally go into your site but it has been very quiet of late. However, I see you are now back! I would like to write a piece regarding the sensationally news story that has been in The Daily Mail this week about a Gambian (Demba Sanneh) who married an English lady (obviously much older) only to start demanding money and support immediately after. She realised she had made the mistake of many others in believing that he was genuine (some are as you know). So, she has returned to England and says she has no intention of divorcing him so he must wait 5 years until he can gain a divorce legally. He has been refused a visitors visor because the authorities are aware of his dubious motives so obviously the tables were turned so to speak.

I obviously don't want to write this in your blog but if you are interested in it you could look it up on the Daily Mail website. I would have liked to have written on a positive note about my situation but won't because I am sure Abdoulie would not want me to. I just get a bit cross that the papers always write about the relationships that go wrong whether it is a Gambian, Turk or any other non EU person. Some (few admittedly) do work and considering 1 in 3 marriages fail in the UK anyway what is there to find shocking in it. Anyway, it is up to you whether you want to comment on it or not but as I said, please don't quote me!!

Shall write something soon less controversial.

Regards

Barbara

KEEP BLOGGING!!

The scorpions failed to sting

'Its good to taste our first defeat so that we can prepare effectively well in our next games'

This was the viewpoint advanced by one Gambian ardent supporter of the national team humbled by the stallions of Burkina Faso on Saturday evening as part of CAN 2012 to be co-hosted by E.Guinea and Gabon.

With a 3-1 defeat under the hands of Burkina Faso, the scorpions will have themselves to blame if they woefully fail to qualify in the next Confederation of African Nations Cup.


After seeing off the desert warriors in a game that saw some beautiful display of talents from the highly inexperience Gambian team, the Scorpions registered their first victory at home with triumphant three goals, thus collecting three solid points. That was what the Gambians expected from their side, after all The Gambia has never been represented at CAN since God created the country. And the good thing is that every successive team always have one thing in mind; how to qualify, and that qualify it must!

But like the case of the proverbial wrestler who entered into the field with pride and charisma relying on solid personal achievements - all that failed to show as soon as the whistle was blown.

The dismal performance on Saturday reminded everyone, if we need reminding that despite our promising talents, we, I mean the Scorpions have a long way to go before we can match the likes of Senegal or even Burkina Faso.

We have to, but all its not lost, as Namibia can still teach Burkina Faso some bitter lessons, after all this is Football, it is never over, until it is finally over. Until that happen, we have to think about what to do next, and lets start it all over again.

I must continue

How could I completely abandoned a pet projectI started in India under the tutelage of a Mexican artist cum literary critic Jesus Hector Betancourt? Isn't the art of blogging boring? Just imagine writing for an audience you probably don't know. So you tend to give up when someone is no longer writing to encourage you.

Anyway each time I post something on BaldehBolong my mind hovers back to the words of inspiration given me by my Tanzanian colleague Chabby Barasa who insisted that whatever happened - I should continue writing. During the first week of my scholarship programme in India, the Mexican friend told me this was the first time he has met an African, and our camaraderie would later include lessons on the art of blogging, book writing, designing and explaining the untold African story.

Even though I have been conspicuously absent all these days, each time I think surf the internet my mind goes to the blog, and start imagining why I couldn't continue writing and what is wrong. Perhaps in India I had so much time to write. In The Gambia, I'm not only married to my wife, but my job, and now reading History and Mass Communication at the University. But I must continue at all cost!

Help me please.

THE SANKULAY KUNDA I SAW

BARELY ONE WEEK AFTER inaugurating the first and only bridge in the Central River Region, in which President Jammeh cut the ribbon thus landing his name in the history books. I traveled returned to this settlement that I had criss crossed several times during my his high shool days.

I'm also a native of the district, I grew up hearing fairy tales that a bridge is almost impossible to be built there; that a dragon had frustrated several attempts before.

The late Cherno Baldeh, Chief of Lower Fulladu West made frantic efforts in 1925 to connect Sankulay Kunda and Janjang Bureh - two communities that have long been separated by the river Gambia by putting phum palm sticks for passerby to walk to the other end.

Now during my recent trip there to capture a special feature for the Gambian television, I could not help but imagine how it was like many many years ago, when the passengers had to rely on a ferry to cross to the other side of the river.

Watch out for this special feature on Gambia Television on Saturday 24th July 2010 @ 21.00 hrs and Sunday 25 July @ 14.oo hrs.

Stadiums like this may be gathering dust for many years

With the FIFA World Cup in South Africa over, haven't you realised that we are missing something? Barbara Scott explains

I don't know whether this is officially recognised by medical experts but it definitely exists, in the UK anyway. The symptoms are usually only suffered by men and are as follows:

A general feeling of lethargy and discontent

A sense of loss

Turning on the TV and switching from channel to channel muttering that "There is nothing to watch!"

Not being able to find an excuse to get out of the house to 'Watch the game on the big screen (usually to be found in a bar somewhere!)

Missing your friends and the predictions pre-match and post mortems post-match

Flicking to the sports pages of the newspapers and finding only golf or motor racing

Realising that they have to talk to their wives again (or rather listen to them talking)

Ticking off the days on the calendar until the football season starts once again

This syndrome only lasts a few weeks because pretty soon the Premier League, Euro Championships and all the other 'friendly' games will be up and running. Once again the pundits will be giving their predictions and the praise and criticisms will come in equal measure. Oh football!! What would you men do without it?! Still, at least it keeps you out of mischief.

Barbara Scott

May be next time

Netherlands Coach Bert Van Marwijk Extremely Disappointed With Loss To Spain




Netherlands coach Bert Van Marwijk cannot hide his disappointment after losing the World Cup final 1-0 to Spain.

Van Marwijk believed that his side failed to capitalise on chances, and made too may errors.

"I am very disappointed. Three more minutes, and we would have made it," the coach said post-match to TuttoSport. "We could have done much better, but we lost in the crucial minutes.

"We came so close, and were very nervous. There were too many errors made, and we didn't take advantage of our opportunities. But the better side won in the end.

"I wanted to be World Champions.

"We were not scared to do well, but seeing how many people we have with yellow cards, we were aiming to get the match to a penalty shoot-out.

"The refereeing is a part of the match. I can see the joy in many people's face, but this is sport," he concluded.

Courtesy of Facebook.com/Goal

LOOKING AT THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE CRITICALLY

By Barbara Scott

I was amused by your piece about the complexity of the English language. I know only too well how confusing this is to someone who is learning English as a second language. It is not until you look at your own language through a foreigner's eyes that you realise why they say it is the hardest language to learn! Well, here is something else that might interest your readers. There is a very amusing and informative book written by a journalist called Lynne Truss called Eats, Shoots and Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation. As a writer and journalist, Truss realised how often improper punctuation can make all the difference to the sense of sentence. An example of this is the clue to the title of the book:

A panda walks into a bar. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air.

"Why? Why are you behaving in this strange, un-panda-like fashion?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda walks towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.

"I'm a panda," he says, at the door. "Look it up."

The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation.

"Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves."

There are many more examples of how poor punctuation can alter the meaning of a sentence or passage completely. Also, the ubiquitous 'apostrophe' is one of my pet hates. There is a golden rule that I learned at school and that is to only put in an apostrophe if it is appropriate. ie: if it is a possesive noun (Barbara's book) or if it is to replace the letter i in an abbreviation (where's my book?). So many people use it as a plural as in a sign I saw recently in a shop window advertising a sale. It read ALL SHIRT'S HALF PRICE! Urrrrrrgh! How irritating is that, especially as it was in big red lettering in a very well known store! If in doubt leave it out is the best advice. Having worked for a newspaper I was always aware that if something was spelt or punctuated wrongly it was nearly always on the front page as a headline and in

72pt bold type!!!!

'Facah returns to India again'

How Good are you!

The English language is very difficult to understand, have you made any effort to decode the language? Lets try to intellectualise this forward.

You think English is easy???

Read to the end . . . a new twist

1) The bandage was wound around the wound.

2) The farm was used to produce produce .

3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

4) We must polish the Polish furniture.

5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.

6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.

7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present ..

8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.

9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

10) I did not object to the object.

11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row .

13) They were too close to the door to close it.

14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.

15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.

16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.

19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

20) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France . Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane.. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

PS. - Why doesn't 'Buick' rhyme with 'quick' ?


You lovers of the English language might enjoy this .
There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is 'UP.'

It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP ?
At a meeting, why does a topic come UP ?
Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report ?
We call UP our friends.
And we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver; we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen.
We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car.
At other times the little word has real special meaning.
People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.
To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special.
A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP..
We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night.

We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP !
To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look the word UP in the dictionary.
In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4th of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions.
If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used.
It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.
When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP .
When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP...
When it rains, it wets the earth and often messes things UP.
When it doesn't rain for awhile, things dry UP.

One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now my time is UP, so........it is time to shut UP!
Now it's UP to you what you do with this email.

Peace

COME ON ENGLAND

Great expectations: This is what Rooney failed to against their match with Algeria

They say that a week is a long time in politics. Well, that can also be said for football as witnessed by the England fans so far in South Africa. Here in England we, like other countries, make heroes of our football stars. They can do no wrong, both on or off the field, as long as they are scoring goals. However, when they don't deliver the results we expect, as we have seen in both of the games they have played so far in the World Cup, we are ruthless in our condemnation of them. I am not a great football fan but I do have opinions on the events so far. I feel we should continue to give them our support regardless of whether they win or lose. Booing and vilifying them will not help them gain the confidence and direction they clearly need to win their next game on Wednesday. Yes, it is dissapointing and for those fans who paid a lot of money to travel to South Africa to watch them it must seem like a total waste of money and time, but no-one can guarantee who will win or lose. They haven't lost yet! I think they should all pick up their vuvuzelas and blow as hard as they can to cheer them on. Come on England, chins up, stiff upper lips, show them what you can really do when you put your minds to it!!

By Barbara Scott in the UK

Oh Football!

FOR ALGERIA, IT WAS A VICTORY- ENGLAND ASKED THEMSELVES WHY COULDN'T COLLECT THREE POINTS:

It is a match English fans will hardly forget for a very long time, not because they were held by Algeria through out the game, it is certainly because England's match was supposed to be a mere formality- a foregone conclusion that the English should collect three points from Algeria. But that was not the case. Take a look at this article published by the middle-east-online:

Algeria determined to stun England
Algerian captain insists his national team have qualities which should shine through against England.

MARGATE - Algeria can pose Group C favourites England problems when the two teams clash on Friday in Cape Town, Algerian captain Anther Yahia claimed on Monday.
Both sides go into the match on the back of disappointing opening results, England being held 1-1 by the United States and Algeria losing 1-0 to Slovenia.
However, 28-year-old Yahia, who plays his club football for German side VfL Bochum, insisted that a change of tactics from their first game would suit his team better and cause the English some discomfort.
"We have qualities which should shine through," said the France-born midfielder, who actually represented France at Under-16 and Under-18 level.
"We are going to pose problems for the English. We will be more ambitious (than against Slovenia) and it is a role that suits us better."
Algeria coach Rabah Saadane said all he wanted was for the players to give their all.
"There are two extremely difficult matches remaining (Algeria's last match is against the USA on June 23) and in which the players have to run themselves into the ground," said Saadane, who also coached Algeria at the 1986 finals.
"We have to be in the right shape psychologically and tactically.
"England are a superb team. I put them among my favourites. There will be very little change against them in terms of personnel, maybe one or two."
Mohamed Raouraoua, president of the Algerian football federation, said Algeria were not going to the match simply to lie down and surrender.
"We are not going there just to make up the numbers," said Raouraoua, who was present at the squad's

Oh South Africa!

WITH ALL THE NOISE AND THE FANFARE:
the Bafafana Bafana fans went home sad as if the ghost of the Soweto uprising is haunting the Rainbow nation

Hopes of South Africa making it to the second round have been dealth with a serious blow by Uruguay's striker Diego Forlan and Pereira last minute brace. Just like the tournament itself, history will be recorded for the first in the history of the tournament should South Africa fail to qualify. And if Bafana Bafana is expecting to defeat the French in their last game - they must do that by a wider goal margin and pray that Mexico trash their distance relatives the South Americans.

Whatever happens, the timing of tonite's three nil defeat by Uruguay will not go down well with South Africans, especially if one is looking at from the history books. On this day in June 1976, dozens of South African students protesting for better education got killed by the Police during the infamous apartheid regime in South Africa.

Now after fighting so hard to host the event on home soil, South Africans may have to wait for Mother Luck to save them from stepping aside out of the 2010 World Cup when they battle it out on their last game.

By Ebrima Baldeh

MEET ME IN BAKAU

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE DEATH of his brother in June last year, one of America's high profile singers in the 1960s Jermaine Jackson is putting up a major musical concert in The Gambia this Saturday at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

All roads are leading to Gambia's main football venue where according to organisers thousands of fans will converge to enjoy the music by Jermaine Jackson who by all indications has been dormant for a relatively long period of time. His coming to The Gambia was made possible thanks to the personal intervention of President Jammeh who is giving Jermaine another unique opportunity to be resuscitate his music in The Gambia and Africa by extension.

Clearly, The Gambia also stand to gain some publicity during the course of his travels in the country and more so the timing of his musical concert in honour of his death brother Michael is well placed given the fact it has been his brother wish to stage a come back, something that never -to be.

In his interactions with the Gambian media, Jermaine Jackson has persistenly avoided talking about his late brother, the told journalists at the Banjul International Airport that he was still mourning and as such he has promised himself not to talk about Michael.


But whatever happens, Jermaine is expected to make history on Saturday when he appear on stage as part of an ambitious fund raising drive initiated by President Jammeh to contribute towards the development of worthy causes.

Already the Banjul International Airport has been inundated with visitors from different countries, LA actress Tchina Arnold known for her instrumental role in 'My name is Chris' Tv series descended on Banjul last evening. This is her first visit to The Gambia, and she's anxiously looking forward to finding out more about the country.

Portrait artist known for putting up a spectacular portrait of U.S President Barack Obama in the oval office at White House Chaz Guest is also in town for the second time in three months. Senegal's famous wrestler Yahya Jobe AKA Yekini told me last night that it was an honour to be invited by the President to come and grace his 45th birthday celebrations in a grand style.