2006 Roots Festival Roots Competition
Gambian Ballas Tops the U.S. *71-70
By Lahh Woods
Brikama City, The Gambia-June 2006
The Gambian National Basketball Team defeated The Grassroots Global Alafia Hoopsters [USA] by the score of *71-70…Game was called after three quarters of play, at the Brikama courts, due to *Sunshine and Love. No kidding. The 90 degree [plus] heat combined with the outpouring of warmth, from the Gambian people in attendance, led to the game being called by the tournament officials. “I’ve been around this game for over forty years and I’ve never heard of a game being called because of sunshine!” stated Lahh Woods, player/coach from New York City. He then laughs and adds, “It’s not a bad thing…but they should have called it when we were up one.”
The Grassroots Global Alafia Hoopsters 2006, a traveling/cultural company, based out of New York, in association with the Afrikan Poetry Theatre, were represented in Africa by Tramaine “Main Street” Oxley [NYC] aka “Lamin”, Wesley “Rain Man” Hunt [Wash DC] aka “Abaraka”, Andre “One Step” Frazier [PHILLY] aka “Sumarak”, Charles “Chew” Bostic [PHILLY], aka “Shaft in Africa” aka Foon-Ya-To [Translation: See Ya Later] and Lahh Woods [Promoter] aka “Souleyman” The Hoopsters rolled into Senegal and The Gambia, West Africa with five US Ballas and picked up 3 alternating Gambian Ballas for each of the three scheduled games.
The Gambians dominated the boards early, in this first of three matches, and provided an aerial display of team rebounding and individual dunk-manship. [Is that a word?] Yes, they’ve got “mucho air-time” above the rim. Basketball in The Gambia is a distant second to the national sport, football (soccer). However, its popularity is steadily growing in this beautiful West African country, as a result of street-ball videos, cable- television, the internet and goodwill promotional games such as this .
It wasn’t long into the game that the almost solemn assembly of people had something to cheer about as Omar Njie, Muhammed, Halifa, Modou and Yusupha premier players from the Gambian National Team, began what could only be described as an International Sky-walking Dunk-Fest. I remember thinking…Are they take gonna take any jump-shots? “The whole team is like 6’8” and they all play above the rim…they could all play D1 ball and some can probably go further than that!” stated Wesley “Abaraka” Hunt [Wash-DC]
Many of the children and adults in attendance politely clapped as the two teams exchanged leads with one another through the second quarter. Gambian crowds, for the most part are reserved and very well behaved compared to the vocal, at times rowdy crowds in the US. A small group of Roots Festival Pilgrims from the DC/Maryland area, led by Rev. Mamie Williams and Sister Ashley supplied vocal support for the Hoopsters…But by the time the game was called the African-Americans were adopted by many of the smiling Gambians in attendance. In fact by games end Charles “Chew” Bostic [Philly] aka “Shaft in Africa” was informed that there was a fan club immediately formed in his honor. A 15 year old named Modou Sanneh smiles and says, “I want to let you now that we have formed a CHEW FAN CLUB here in The Gambia and I am the first president!” Talk about receiving love from the people! This is crazy love!
This outdoor park in Brikama, Gambia has high wooden backboards with one shaky rim, that I didn’t think was going to hold out from the Gambian aerial assault. The park was gated and had a large football [soccer] field right next to it. The Gambian National Team’s coaches and table staff at were courteous and professional. These sisters and brothers took care of business and we have all the respect in the world for them. The hospitality for the Africans from the US was second to none. However, someone is going to have to pray for intervention for the state of officiating in the region. That will take another article and another time to fully get into. Even with that said…
INTERNATIONAL RULES ARE THE FUTURE OF BASKETBALL IN THE UNITED STATES. Trust me it’s a faster game, and a better game. The ground on this court was also in need of some maintenance, and was surrounded by fans of the game, mostly children, and the otherwise curious locals. The series of cracks on the ground were identical to the beat-up inner city concrete and blacktop playgrounds back in the USA [NY, PHILLY, DC, etc].
Tramaine “Main Street” Oxley [NYC] aka “BK All Day” played solid “D” throughout and kept the rock moving to the more than able scorers from DC & Philly. Half-time score was 43 to 35 in favor of the Gambians and halftime entertainment consisted of the Hoopsters scrambling for cold water, shade from the teeming sun and asthma pumps. “We didn’t even know Wes had asthma! I just thought his shot was a little off and he just wasn’t playin’ too much D” mentions Lahh.
Midway through the third quarter, with the Gambians ahead by 8 to10 points, Roots Basketball Officials stated that the game would be called at the end of the quarter because of “Too much Sun.” It was blazing hot out there, no doubt! Hotter than the 12 noon concrete at Soul In the Hole…What did you expect people? THIS IS AFRICA! The Hoopsters call time-out and reflect their pressing situation. You know…This is do or die…Drink some extra water and let’s get it on! The Hoopsters rallied back from 10 down with slick, playground tested, dribble penetration and arcing baskets from “Shaft in Africa” Bostic and aerial assaults on the bucket by Andre “One-Step” Frazier [PHILLY] aka ‘Sumarak to the Rack” [translation: brother to the basket]. Yes without a doubt The Philly Connection {Bostic & Frazier both ball with Watkins Enterprises}definitely carried the Hoopsters offensive work load to get back into this game…Lahh chimes in, “We were glad to see that Dre had finally woke up…He’s a late night type of brother, you know...Let’s party to the break of dawn type of dude.”
With less than 20 seconds on the clock the Hoopsters had a commanding [smile]….one point lead…and the ball. The ball was advanced past the half court line and passed to one of the Gambian alternates on the US team. “He didn’t have to take that shot. All we had to do was hold the ball”, laments Tramaine “Lamin” Oxley. The errand short jumper bounces off the rim and is rebounded...The Gambians quickly release the ball up-court, fill the passing lanes …and attack the rack…to take a commanding [smile] one point lead as the 3rd quarter ends. GAME OVER! Chew “Shaft in Africa” Bostic triple doubled in points, rebounds and assist. On the way out of the park my brothers Kemo and Soulayman [Gambian tour guides] comment on how exciting it was to see both teams play. They comment, “It was a great match!” and “We are proud to be here…to witness this kind of thing.”
Gambian ballas are given props by all for not giving up and for a good contest. US players are mobbed by the local people. They want hugs, autographs, game jerseys, pounds, and e-mails. Mostly they want to connect with their brothers from across the Atlantic. The feelings are mutual…That’s why we came here. Players walk away with a sense of accomplishment…a sense of purpose and love that’s bigger than basketball. On the tour bus heading back to the hotel Lahh reflects, “If we had one rebound or defensive stop left in us we would have won this one…It’s alright…When you play ball at a family reunion somebody’s got to take a “L” on the chin and smile about it. Today it was our turn.” There was plenty to smile about at the Brikama courts, a small town of about 50,000, on this day. The people in The Gambia will never forget it and neither will we. Kairu [Peace]
NEXT STOP ON THE GRASSROOTS GLOBAL ALAFIA WORLD TOUR
PUERTO RICO— 07-07-07
