Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet recounts "terrible experience" during Moroccan earthquake

Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet admits it was "very scary" to experience the earthquake that rocked Morocco on Friday.

More that 800 people were reported to have died after a 6.8 magnitude shock ran through a number of cities in the country.

Saintfiet's charges were in Marrakesh preparing for Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Congo.

The match was still scheduled to take place despite the tragedy that the head coach has described as 'feeling endless'.

He told the BBC: "It seems it was only 30 seconds but it felt endless. It was really scary. The walls were really shaking and things were falling down from the ceiling and the walls. I never in my life saw a building moving like that.

"When it stopped, I started running and checking if my team members were also out of their rooms.

"Then we ran outside the hotel and all went to the pool area and slept there in the open air with the other guests as we were told that we couldn't return to our rooms.

"It was very scary. We heard ambulances all night and kept checking the news. It's a terrible experience for us but most of all for all the casualties who lost their lives and the people of Morocco."

Saintfiet added: "I know that several players don't want to play the game tomorrow.

"We are sportsmen and want to qualify and to be fair but a lot of players, their mindset is totally not on football.

"If there are so many casualties in this city is it wise to let us play football? Maybe we could play in October?

"At the moment the focus is not on football but the welfare of the players and all the people in Morocco and Marrakech."

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