Saintfiet Lashes Out at Gambian Media Amidst AFCON Struggles
By Omar Jobe
Scorpions coach, Tom Saintfiet, has accused the local media of attempting to embarrass him and turn fans, players, and stakeholders against him. The criticism comes in the wake of questions about the team’s defensive struggles in recent matches, especially after getting hammered 3-0 by neighbours, Senegal – in the AFCON opener on Monday.
Saintfiet, who led Gambia to a second consecutive AFCON qualification, expressed disappointment with the negative attitude of certain Gambian journalists, claiming that they were undermining his achievements and tactical choices.
Addressing the media, he stated, “You are trying to embarrass me in front of the international media. You, the Gambian journalists, are trying to influence the mindset of the fans, the players, and other people. When we win, you are happy, but when we lose, I am the worst coach in the history of Gambia.”
The Belgian tactician defended his defensive approach against top-ranked teams, arguing that it was the best strategy for achieving results. He highlighted the contradictory reactions, noting that when the team attacked and conceded many goals, criticism followed for being too adventurous.
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“When I defend and win matches, you celebrate. But when I attack and we concede a lot of goals, I am the worst coach,” he asserted. Saintfiet reminded the media that Gambia is not a football powerhouse, urging realistic expectations. He emphasised the non-professional nature of the Gambian league, where some players earn less than $50 a month.
“We never qualified for the AFCON, and now we are here. You people think that we can beat everyone, you think we cannot be beaten. You should be proud of what we have achieved and support us instead of trying to bring us down,” he urged.
Gambia, currently at the bottom of Group C with zero points, faces Guinea on today at 8pm Gambian time, needing a win to keep hopes alive for reaching the knockout stage.