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SPOTLIGHT
By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh
When the shouting erupted barely ten minutes into yesterday’s Brikama Sports Committee Super Cup final, Bintou Jatta did not flinch.
Standing on the touchline at the Brikama Boxba Mini Stadium, right beside the emotional Misera United bench, the 24-year-old assistant referee kept her flag firm, her eyes locked on the pitch, and her composure intact. When a coach loudly demanded a foul, Jatta calmly evaluated the incident, stood by her decision, smiled, and let play continue.
It was a small moment in a high-stakes final between Touray’s FA and Misera United, but it offered a clear glimpse into the temperament of a young official fast becoming comfortable in an environment where men have traditionally dominated the touchlines.
“I have learned that coaches and players will always have emotions during a match because everyone wants to win,” Jatta says. “I understand that, but as a referee, I have to remain focused. If I believe I have seen the situation correctly, I have to trust my judgement and continue with the game.”
The final was another important step in a journey that began when Jatta made a difficult decision about her own playing career.
At 24, she once imagined her future with football boots on her feet rather than a referee’s flag in her hand. She played for Jeswang United and hoped that playing football could eventually become a career, but after some time she began to feel that the path she was following would not take her where she wanted to go.
“I was playing football, but I reached a point where I did not see a future for myself as a player,” she says. “It was not because I stopped loving football. I still loved the game, and I wanted to remain part of it. I just realised that I needed to find another way to build my future around football.”
That other way emerged in 2023, when fellow referee Sainey Bojang encouraged her to consider refereeing. Jatta took the opportunity and began learning the laws of the game, positioning, and the responsibilities that come with being part of a match officiating team.
The transition meant looking at football from an entirely different perspective. The player who once waited for a referee’s decision was now learning how to make those decisions herself, knowing that every call could be scrutinised by players, coaches, and supporters.
“Refereeing has changed the way I understand football. As a player, you are mainly thinking about your team and your own performance. As a referee, you have to think about the whole match. You have to concentrate, communicate with your team, and make decisions fairly, even when you know some people will not be happy with them.”
Her progress has continued since those early days. Last year, she was promoted to the men’s second division, and next season she will officiate women’s second division matches. Yesterday’s Super Cup final offered another opportunity to test herself in a high-pressure environment and continue gaining experience.
For Jatta, however, the destination is much further away than Brikama.
She wants to earn a FIFA badge and eventually officiate international matches—a dream that would take her from the local touchlines where she is currently establishing herself to stages far beyond The Gambia.
“I want to get my FIFA badge and officiate international matches,” she explains. “That is what I am working towards. I know it will take time, discipline, and a lot of hard work, but I am ready for that. I want to keep improving with every match and make sure that when an opportunity comes, I am prepared for it.”
The final offered another reminder of how comfortable she has become officiating men’s football. Standing beside the Misera United technical area, she was close enough to hear every reaction from the bench while remaining focused on the action.
“I do not feel pressure because I am officiating a men’s match,” she told this outlet. “I have become used to it. Once I step onto the pitch, I am not thinking about whether I am a woman and the players are men. I am thinking about the game, my positioning, communicating with the referee, and making the right decisions.”
That composure was evident when the early protest came from the Misera bench. Rather than allowing the confrontation to define the moment, Jatta made her assessment and moved on.
“Football can become very emotional, and you cannot stop people from reacting. What you can control is how you respond. I do not want someone’s reaction to affect my next decision. I would rather stay calm, communicate when necessary, and focus on doing my job properly.”
Her parents have also supported her decision to pursue refereeing, giving her encouragement as she builds a career that she did not originally imagine when she first started playing football.
“My parents are all in support of my refereeing career, and I really appreciate that. Knowing that they believe in what I am doing gives me confidence. I want to work hard, continue improving, and make them proud of the person and referee I am becoming.”
There is also a wider message in Jatta’s journey. She believes young women should understand that playing is not the only way to build a future in football, and that walking away from one role does not necessarily mean walking away from the sport.
“I want young girls to understand that football has many opportunities,” she says. “You can play, referee, coach, work in administration, or find another way to contribute to the game. If one path does not work out, you should not feel that your football journey has ended. Sometimes you just have to find another path and keep going.”
Jatta has found hers.
From Jeswang United, where she once chased the ball as a player, to the touchline where she now watches the game with a different responsibility, her journey has already taken an unexpected turn. The boots have been replaced by a flag, but the ambition that brought her into football remains.
Next season, the women’s second division will provide another stage for her development. She will have more matches to officiate, more decisions to make, and more opportunities to demonstrate the qualities she believes can eventually take her towards the FIFA level.
For now, she is focused on the work in front of her.
“I have a dream, and I know where I want to go,” she says. “I just want to continue working towards it. Every match gives me something to learn, and every difficult moment makes me stronger. Hopefully, one day I will get the opportunity to officiate internationally, and when that day comes, I want to know that I earned it.”
At the Brikama Boxba Mini Stadium last evening, the pressure of a Super Cup final was real. The shouting came from the bench, the players battled for every ball, and every decision mattered. Jatta stood on the touchline, flag in hand, communication device in place, and her attention fixed on the game.
She had already made her choice about where football could take her.
She was no longer chasing the ball. She was chasing the dream from a different side of the pitch.
