The race to the commencement of the fourth edition of the Guaranty Trust (GT) Bank Principals’ Cup is gaining momentum as schools from the Greater Banjul Area and the regions on Wednesday, July 24th converged at the Friendship Hostel of the Independence Stadium for the presentation of jerseys that also culminated into the balloting of group stage matches.
Sixteen schools will take part in the one week tournament that will be participated by both boys and girls and the tournament would consist of eight teams in each of the categories. The eight would be divided into two groups of four teams each with the top two teams qualifying for the semifinals and eventually the finals.
It could be recalled that more than a hundred schools took part in the national qualifiers which was entirely sponsored by the GFF. The winners, according to the sponsors and the organisers, will pocket home D75,000:00 while the runners up will also earn D50,000:00.
Speaking at the occasion on behalf of the President of The Gambia Football Federation (GFF), the Third Vice President Rtd. General Lang Tombong Tamba thanked The Gambia Schools Football Association for the tremendous efforts put in place for this year’s edition. “I want to assure you that the GFF under our able leadership of President Lamin Kaba Bajo will always support grassroots football through schools in the country,” he affirmed.
General Tamba, Head of Youth and Grassroots football at Football House told the gathering that the Federation will continue to invest heavily in schools football. “[So that] a foundation can be built that will eventually lead to getting a stronger National Team in the future,” he said, adding that as a country, we cannot be assured of a sustainable and a strong National Team if we do not develop talents at the schools.
He also said it is very evident that the current GFF leadership is very much committed to do away with age cheating in football. “I am glad to report here that as I am speaking, this is the first time that a selection of the Under-17’s has been made purely from the schools. The Gambia has always been found wanting for age cheating which doesn’t only affect the country but also the players so that is why the GFF have given prominence to supporting schools football. He added that the bottom-top-approach means producing very talented players that matches with their age. He stressed that it is as a result of this, the Federation makes it a priority to work with the Schools Football Association to run a programme of trying to support them and develop the young skills.
