Accra, July 27, GNA - Fredrick Osam Doudou, head coach of the Gambian Under-17 National team is gradually making waves in the tiny West African country after just two months of taking over the team.

The former Black Stars coach who gained the appointment through the International Olympic Committee (IOC) guided the team to win an anniversary tournament dubbed "International Peace Match" which had over ten countries participating.

The tournament, which ended last Sunday, was to create a platform to foster unity among the youth of Africa of the continent and to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Gambian leader, Captain Yahya Jammeh.

Speaking to the GNA Sports in an interview, the veteran coach who is in the country for the Confederations Africa Football (CAF) instructors course, said his team is gradually taking shape for the Africa Under - 17 tournament in Gambia next year.

He said the performance of his team in the recent tournament which included countries like Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania, South Africa, Tunisia and Liberia is unprecedented in the history of Gambian soccer.

Coach Osam Doudou said the team has now provided the nation with an array of hope and this will spur them on to achieve more laurels.

According to the coach, the success of the team in the tournament, has laid the needed foundation for the future of Gambian football. Coach Osam Doudou said, since his team would not be taking part in the qualifiers, they would soon embark on training tours to Ghana, South Africa, Egypt and other African countries in preparations for the Africa Under-17 tournamentey scheduled for May next year.

The coach said Gambians are expecting an improved performance from the team in the tournament following their exploits in the mini tourney and expressed the hope that the team will leave up to expectation in the tournament.

The coach is scheduled to leave Accra for Gambia this week-end and is expected in the country next month with his team to begin the training tour.