Basketball:
 Pick-up
sports are common in the areas behind the handball courts,
though female players are rather rare. A national teams
exists, but isn’t too big (or exceptionally talented
by international standards).
Cricket:
Inter-club cricket is played in league matches organised
by the Gambia
Cricket Association, which also organises international
matches. Cricket matches can be watched in the capital's
McCarthy Square, Banjul.
Exercise Machines & Weight Lifting:
Many of the big hotel accommodations have fitness gyms
within their grounds as well as several in the Fajara
Golf Club.
Weight lifting and exercise machines: There are
a variety of weightlifting devices as well as several
exercise bikes available for use at the gym inside
Independence Stadium. The cost for a membership is
about $15 per month. To get to this room, enter the
stadium through the front doors (the side facing away
from the hotel). Leave the lobby through the door
on your right; journey down the long hallway to find
the weight room on the end. Hours are usually between
3:00 pm and 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
Handball:
Handball is sometimes likened to a combination of
football and basketball. It is played in a 40 by 20
meter (131.2 by 65.6 feet) court, with two netted
goals at either end. The sides of six players and
one goalie each attempt to score goals by dribbling
and passing the ball down the court and into the net.
The winning team is the one that scores the most points
during the sixty-minute match. If you want to see
handball in action, look for games in the fenced in,
paved handball court located next to the tennis courts
in the Friendship Hotel/Independence Stadium complex.
Rugby:
Rugby is probably as familiar to Gambians as American
football—not very much at all. However, a variety
of expatriates (mainly scientists from the MRC and
volunteers from Peace Corps and VSO) meet twice a
week at Leybato Beach for an informal game of touch.
At the time of writing, these games occur Tuesdays
at 6:00 pm and Sunday at 5:00 pm. All ages and abilities
welcome.
Sport
Fishing
River and ocean fishing is good throughout the year,
particularly rod and line-fishing from the beachfront.
A number of sport-fishing boats are located and available
for excursions at Denton Bridge and near the estuary
of the River Gambia.
Swimming:
 The
estuary of the River
Gambia on the Atlantic coast provides miles of
magnificent beaches with warm seas throughout the
year. Caution is necessary, owing to strong currents.
Table Tennis:
You can play table tennis (ping-pong) inside the Independence
Stadium—enter the main doors (the side not facing
the hotel) and exit the lobby through the door on
the left. The table tennis room is at the end of the
hallway, and is generally open Monday to Saturday,
4:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Apply within for a membership;
bring about $8.90 and two passport size photos for
an I.D. card.
Tennis:
There are tennis courts in the Independence Stadium
complex, so bring a racket and a few balls if you
are an enthusiast (they are rather expensive here
for their not-as-good quality). Tournaments are occasionally
held on these courts, as well as tennis lessons.
Watersports:
Atlantic resorts cater for windsurfing, jet-skis and
surfing. Sailing is possible at The Gambia Sailing
Club at Banjul, which welcomes visitors. A notable
event is the race to Dog Island. Additional regattas
are organised on special occasions. Both sea and river
fishing is good all year, particularly line-fishing
from the beaches. Several sport-fishing
tour operators have boats are available for sea-angling
trips. |
