In its continuous drive to develop all facets of football, The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) is bracing up for a mass beach soccer competition that is expected to get underway in June, 2019 and is aimed at introducing the game to scores of Gambians.
This was disclosed to this medium by the Vice Chairman of the GFF Beach Soccer Committee, Mr. John F. Mendy on Monday April 8, 2019. at the GFF Secretariat in Kanifing. “We want to bring beach soccer to prominence,” John Mendy expressed. He said the GFF Beach Soccer Committee under the Federation is charged with the responsibility of reviving the game which is under the umbrella of football. “The laws are codified and many countries across the world are excelling in beach soccer, especially our neighbors Senegal and so The Gambia can also make a name in the game because the GFF is ready to provide us with all the logistics needed.”
Mendy said the programme will be launched in the form of a testimonial match at the beach and will be followed by a tournament where clubs will be invited to register with the Committee. A national team selection from the tournament could be easily done during this tournament according to Mendy. He said the GFF Technical Director Mr. Sang Ndong has already put up a calendar for the Technical Department where beach soccer is already allotted period for their activities. “These include organising tournaments, training of referees, medical personnel, coaches and administrators.”
A survey according to the Vice Chairman has already been done around the playable areas at former Radio Syd in Banjul and the Palma Rima Beach strip.
