The Normalization Committee of the Gambia Football Association in conjunction with Gambia For Gold wishes to inform the general public that the Scorpions of The Gambia will play the Atlas Lions of Morocco in the FIFA 2014 World Cup qualifier on Saturday 2nd June, 2012 at the Independence Stadium in Bakau at 4:30pm.

This will be Gambia’s opening account in the FIFA 2014 World Cup qualifying Round against Morocco. The general public is hereby urged to turn up in great numbers to boost the morale of the Scorpions for their quest to qualify the Gambia for the first time in a FIFA World Cup.

The Major League Soccer’s Disciplinary Committee has decided to suspend Gambia international and Portland Timbers centerback Mamadou “Futty” Danso for one game and fined him an undisclosed amount for his hard tackle on Houston’s Caleb Carr during the Timbers scoreless draw against the Dynamo.

The league handed down the discipline for what it said was Danso “striking (Carr) across the head” during the 82nd minute of the game. Futty Danso will sit out the Timbers’ home game against Chicago Fire Sunday.

Needless to say, Portland coach John Spencer doesn’t agree with the decision. “I don’t want to say what I think about that, because I don’t want to get fined,” Spencer said. Futty Danso chased down Carr as the Houston forward was streaking toward the goal (watch video of play here). The two collided and video replays appear to show that Futty kicked the ball first before the collision.

Ansu Sowe improved his timing for the 10,000 metres at the NJCAA Division One Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Levelland, Texas although finishing outside the top three.

The Gambian distance runner finished 6th in the event clocking a personal best of 33:00.73 (33-minutes zero-point-seven-three seconds) on the opening day of the championships on Tuesday. Sowe, who hails from the North Bank Region village of Berending, ran in the colours of Monroe College, where he is freshman.

Dawda Bah’s manager at Augsburg, Jos Luhukay will take over as Hertha Berlin coach following the end of Otto Rehhagel’s short-term deal, with Markus Weinzierl replacing the Dutchman.

Luhukay, 48, joined Augsburg in March 2009 and led the Bavarian side to the German Cup semi-finals in his first full season in charge before guiding them to the top flight for the first time in their history in the following campaign, finishing runners-up to Bundesliga 2 champions Hertha.