The Independent (Banjul)

September 20, 2004  - Lamin M Fatty

Banjul

The Sanneh family last Sunday paid tribute to Jalang the Senegambian wrestling icon of the 1980s. Jalang was a wrestling icon who took the name of The Gambia to higher heights. Jalang started his wrestling career in 1981 and was invited and recruited by The Gambia Wrestling Association.

In 1982, he was selected among other wrestlers to contest in Guinea Conakry for the annual Amilcar Cabral Wrestling Competition. This competition was a regional activity with Senegal, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Mali, Guinea Bissau, Togo and other African countries participating.

Due to his outstanding performances, Jalang won the trophy and was cheered upon arrival at the Banjul International Airport. In Conakry, he was given the opportunity to meet with former Guinean President Ahmed Sekou Toure. Again in 1988, The Gambia's wrestling icon, Jalang led another wrestling team to Tunisia for an All-African Championship. This delegation headed for Rome-Italy where they spent three weeks in a training camp. The king of the arena again won a gold medal with his team.

In the same year, he represented the entire African continent at the Seoul Olympic Games for Greek-Roma wrestling style. He won trophies and medals. These are some of the main achievements of  this great wrestler.

However, his one-year anniversary was observed on the 12th September at his family compound. The family paid tribute to the icon of The Gambia wrestling legendary. According to his brother Tumani Sanneh the man died a lonely man leaving nothing in terms of wealth or even friends.

Family members will always remember his legendary as he was one of the best and most famous man of our family. Jalang was betrayed by the country he tirelessly promoted internationally. "He won lot of trophies and medals for The Gambia but he was woefully betrayed by the country" Tumani pointed out. Tumani also cited one of Jalang's trips during which he won a trophy but was never allowed to shed eye on the trophy, emphasising that his brother a fervent patriotic was never allowed to meet the then President Mr. Jawara.

According to Tumani, Jalang once said to him after one his trips before dying: "My championship was fruitless and this trip marks the beginning of hardship for me. I am a lame man whom even beggars on the streets are better than.

Both the Wresting Federation and the GNOC neglected me. I was left in a horrible state of thinking and illness and just counting my days. My younger brother, please forgive me for whatever I have done to you. I hand over my family to you. Forgive me for whatever I have done to you. Please look after my children and take care of their education and I pray to God to guide you and my offspring and the family at large."

Tumani told The Independent that Jalang died a broken heart. The Sanneh family will continue to weep for him not just because he departed but also because he was a man who did something great for his country.

Jalang Sanneh is survived by six children, a wife and five brothers.

MAY GOD THE ALMIGHTY REWARD HIM WITH HIS BOUNTY AND MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE.  AMEN.

_________________________________________________________________________