The Gambia Football Federation in collaboration with FIFA on Wednesday 27th October, 2021, launched a women’s athlete empowerment project to honour the legacy of former Gambia and Red Scorpions goalkeeper Fatim Jawara.
Ms. Jawara drowned in the deadly waves of the Mediterranean, in the coast of Libya, this particular day in 2016, after embarking on the perilous journey to Europe in search of greener pasture without the knowledge of her family. Her untimely death, coming at the peak of her career, generated a lot of international media attention at the time.
As a consequent, football’s world governing body and the Football House decided to use her image and lunched this program aimed at sensitising women footballers to stay home and by teaching them with life skills that has the potential to develop into income generating opportunities for them in their home countries instead of embarking on such risky journeys.
Presiding over the launch ceremony, the GFF President Mr. Lamin Kaba Bajo described Ms. Jawara as a talented and hardworking player who performed extremely well for both her club and the national team, notably for featuring in the 2012 FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup in Azerbaijan. Mr. Bajo thanked FIFA through its Secretary General Madam Fatma Samoura who spearheaded this social initiative.
While thanking the family of Fatim Jawara for allowing them to launch the project, President Bajo hoped to involve all the relevant stakeholders to support the process for its sustainability and build a strong solidarity system towards the talented women athletes of The Gambia.
Speaking earlier, the third Vice President, General Langtombong Tamba, the head of women and grassroots football at GFF described Fatim as a true and patriotic daughter of the nation. “It is a sad day for everyone and especially the family of Fatim and football fans all over. Women’s football is gradually developing and we would have loved her to be here but Allah decides, so we can remember her by using the opportunity to sensitise young people to avoid such journeys and take advantage of the opportunities within,” he affirmed.
Basiru Jawara, a brother of Fatim, speaking on behalf of the family, described her as caring. He said Fatim was an ambitious young girl who would do anything to help put a smile on the face of her family. He recalled that she would close from school and helped her mother in the domestic chores and other family responsibilities before running to the football field for her usual exercises.
“She was a very hardworking girl. I remember when she arrived from the World Cup, she gave all her bonus to my mother to complete the house construction and that goes to tell you that she sacrificed everything for her family despite her young age,” he said, while thanking FIFA and the GFF for the initiative. Basiru also seized the opportunity to discourage youths from the back-way journey.
The project facilitator, Fatou Bintou Ba, speaking via Zoom from Dakar, Senegal, paid tribute to the family of late Fatim Jawara. “The message is clear; we want players to live their dreams, but be safe. It was good to take advantage to pay tribute and officially launch the project that will remember Fatim Jawara and many others. FIFA, GFF and Fatima’s family are fully involved and will work towards ensuring it’s sustainability and make it easier for the young girls to live their dreams without thinking of the dangerous journey.”
The press conference was chaired by Mr. Baboucarr Camara the Marketing and Communications Director who deputised for the Chief Executive of the GFF, Mr. Lamin M. Jassey.
