A representative of Team Gambia with the African Advisory Council Bronx Week Soccer Tournament trophy. (Photo courtesy of Ruben Diaz Jr.’s office)

Team Gambia recently captured the African Advisory Council Bronx Week Soccer Tournament.

Players and representatives from Gambia’s soccer team participated in the annual tournament, part of the Bronx Week celebration and marched down Mosholu Parkway during the recent 46th annual Bronx Week Parade.

Gambia defeated the Senegal team 1-0 in the final Saturday May 20 at Macombs Dam Park in the shadows of Yankee Stadium.

Sixteen teams representing various African countries, played every Saturday and Sunday, during May to determine the Bronx African champion.

The tournament, by Bronx Lebanon Hospital, Royal Air Maroc, Coca-Cola and Western Beef, is part of the Borough president’s office annual Bronx Week celebration.

Bronx Borough president Ruben Diaz Jr. presented the team the championship trophy as part of the festivities.

“Throughout the city, immigrants from all over the world bring their immense passion for ‘the beautiful game,’ and this tournament showcases that love of soccer among our ever-growing Bronx African community,” he said. “I want to thank everyone who participated in this wonderful tournament and I would like to congratulate Team Gambia for a hard-fought championship campaign.”

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.