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GAMBIA
Gambia’s sporting personalities feted by SJAG in colourful ceremony
By Musa Sise On November 25, 2023, the Sports Journalist Associ- ation of The Gambia (SJAG) organised the 12th edition of the National Sports Awards at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Confer- ence Center in Bijilo. The First Lady of The Republic of the Gambia Her Excellency Fatoumata Bah Barrow was in attendance alongside other government officials from Gambia and neighbouring Senegal. Also present was a delegation of the Senegalese sports press (ANPS) led by AIPS Africa president Abdoulaye Thiam. Gambia’s finest young coach Abdoulie Bojang was named the sports personality of the year for his stellar guidance of the Gambia’s U-20 through the WAFU, AFCON and FIFA World Cup. Serial champions, Real De Banjul won the team and coach of the year, respectively, following Estonian Vjatseslav Zahovai- ko’s success in his debut season. Mustapha Drammeh picked up the local-based athlete of the year while Kumba Kuyateh of Red Scorpions grabbed the female athlete of the year accolade. Many unsung heroes were also recognised for the efforts in the promotion of sports. The president of the Gambia Football federation, Lamin Kaba Bajo, Coach
Tom Saintfiet and his team man- ager Ousman Cho Drammeh were honoured. Besenty Gomez, a social commentator and sports enthusiast was recognised with a special award for his outstand- ing contribution to sports devel- opment in the country.
KYRGYZ REPUBLIC
Sports Journalists Federation of Kyrgyz Republic organises chess tournament among media representatives
By Kabyl Makeshov On November 7, Information and Press Day in Kyrgyz Republic, the Federation of Sports Journalists of the Kyrgyz Republic organised a chess tournament among media representatives. Twenty four participants took part in a high level chess game that lasted more than five hours. The winners received memorable cups and prizes. The winner was Channel Five employ- ee Chingis Adzhimatov. The silver medalist was a staff member of national broadcasting corporation Kazybek Kenenbaev. Sports journalist Kuban Atabekov completed the top three. In addition, famous and honoured domestic specialists such as Kanai Alamanov, Surat Zhylkychiev, Kadyr Kalilov, Onolbek Sagynbekov, Myrzakat Tynaliev and others were awarded with special gifts from the President of the Sports Journalists Federation of the Kyrgyz Republic, Ulugbek Salymbe- kov. The SJF of Kyrgyz Republic annually on July 2, World Sports Journalists Day, organises a sports competition among journalists, which takes place on
the coast of Issyk-Kul lake. In honour of the 100th anniversary of the "Kyr- gyz Tuusu" national newspaper next year, chief editor Myrzakat Tynaliev has proposed to hold the same chess tournament.
L-R: 2nd place Kazybek Kenenbaev, winner - Chingis Adzhimatov, 3rd place Kuban Atabekov
President of Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune
ALGERIA
Algerian Sports Journalists Association welcomes President Tebboune’s measures to benefit the media
The Algerian Sports Journalists Association (AJSA) welcomed the measures announced by the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, for the benefit of the national media.
The series of decisions, announced at the ceremony to award the 9th President of the Republic's Prize for Professional Journalists on Sun- day, December 3, include the reduction of Air Algérie plane ticket pric- es to benefit sports journalists responsible for covering African compe- titions and naming press centres in stadiums after sports journalists. In a statement, the AJSA expressed hope that these measures will “boost the activities of the national sports press, which is facing major difficulties in the functioning of their respective media.”
It added: “The AJSA hopes that this measure will lead to others, to give the national sports press the instruments necessary for its devel- opment, for the benefit of the National Sports Movement and sports information for citizens.”
The AJSA has been affiliated with the International Sports Press Asso- ciation (AIPS) since 1996.
GEORGIA
Hosts Georgia win Kote Makharadze memorial media football tournament for first time
By David Akhaladze With the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth of Georgia, the Association of Sports Journalists of Georgia organised the media foot- ball tournament named after Georgian legendary commentator, Kote Makharadze, for the fourth time. The reigning champions Kazakhstan were placed in Group B to- gether with Romania, Azerbaijan and Georgia 2. Our first team, Armenia, Latvia and India entered Group A. The event was held on the fields of Interacademy Georgia. The first and second-placed teams of both groups went to the semi-finals. Georgia defeated Azerbaijan (3-2) and Romania beat Armenia 3-2 in a penalty shootout. Then the hosts would go on to become champions. Georgia beat Romania in the final. David Frangishvili scored the most important goal, tying the game, before Geor- gia won 4-2. Kote Makharadze's main prize stays in Georgia. The champions went the whole tournament undefeated.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS WINNERS: First goal: Gegi Kikabidze (Georgia 1) - The best goalkeeper: Khoren Manukyan (Armenia) - The best defender: Yanis Razdans (Lat- via) - The best midfielder: Davit Frangishviil (Georgia 1) - The best forward: Nurami Iskanderov (Azerbaijan) - Best goal: Mamuka Kvaratskhelia (Georgia 1, against Lat- via) - The best scorer: Irakli Sikharulidze (6, Georgia 1) - The best player: Robert Miku (Romania)
FROM THE WORLD
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