Draw sparks national holiday

Gambians are celebrating a national holiday on Monday after President Yahya Jammeh declared the country needed to properly celebrate Saturday's 1-1 draw in Senegal.
Despite missing out on qualification for next year's final round of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations, the Scorpions avoided defeat in Dakar for the first time since 1962 and in the process knocked their neighbours out of both competitions.
"It's a national holiday because of the great performance by the national team," Gambian Football Association (GFA) official Abdou Salam Jammeh told BBC Sport.
"Obviously, we have mixed feelings because things did not go our way in respect to qualifying for the final phase but we are still celebrating nonetheless.
"We knocked out our closest rivals, which is as sweet a result as we could have imagined.
"What is more, given the youthful nature of our team, it shows that The Gambia is coming of age and that the future is bright for our football."


The Scorpions just failed to make it through as one of the best group runners-up.
However, the draw meant they finished above Senegal in a qualifying campaign for the first time in their history.
"It was not easy to get a point but I want to thank the Gambian population, especially the president and the fans who came all the way to support us," striker Ousmane Jallow told BBC Sport.
"We have made history for The Gambia and I'm very proud to be a Gambian today.
"When we landed at the airport before the match, the Senegalese told us we were a small country and that they were going to beat us.
"Even though we haven't qualified, I am happy to get a point and to have eliminated Senegal."

The Teranga Lions, World Cup quarter-finalists in 2002, were just four minutes away from booking their place in the final round until Aziz Corr scored to earn The Gambia a 1-1 draw.
The point was the least the visitors deserved after largely dominating the Senegalese.
"I am very proud of the way we played, and this is not only my work but the work of the whole team," said Belgian coach Paul Put.
"I am proud to be national coach of The Gambia and I hope I can continue with this team because they have a great future in front of them."
Put's contract is due to expire in May next year, but the GFA will be meeting soon in an attempt to determine his future.
"We recognise the great job that Paul has done since taking charge, and we will be doing our best to hold onto him," Abdou Salam Jammeh added.
Not since 1962, when The Gambia won 3-2 in Dakar, have the Scorpions succeeded in avoiding defeat when playing their neighbours in Senegal.

Gambian care worker jailed for rape in UK

John Mendy, a Gambian care worker residing in the United Kingdom, who admitted raping two women, one of them a psychiatric hospital patient, has been sentenced to an indeterminate jail term.

John Mendy, 33, of Sandwich Road, Ramsgate, Kent, was told he must serve at least four-and-a-half years before being eligible for parole.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of rape at hearing at Canterbury Crown Court in May.

He will also be deported to Gambia when he is released from prison.

Mendy was charged with raping a female patient at St Martin's Hospital in Canterbury in November 2007.

He was also charged with raping a 39-year-old woman from Canterbury who was attacked in the early hours of 16 August 2007 after a night out in Margate.

Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust said Mendy was sacked when he pleaded guilty to the charges and would never be allowed to work in a care environment.

A statement said: "To prey on such a vulnerable victim is inexcusable."

It said the allegation against Mendy was brought to the attention of Kent Police as soon it came to light.

"We are sorry for the affect this incident has had on the victim," it added.

"Nobody should expect this to happen to them when being admitted to hospital."

The trust said the incident had had a huge impact on staff and an internal investigation had been conducted to see what lessons could be learnt.

Supt Chris Hogben said the sentence reflected the seriousness of Mendy's offences.

"I would like to pay tribute to the victims in these cases," he said.

"Without their bravery in coming forward to give evidence we are unlikely to have been able to secure such a positive conviction for a man who poses a serious risk to women."