The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) today presented football equipment to the first and second division teams in a ceremony held at the Football House in Kanifing.
The materials include two sets of jerseys, 18 pairs of shin pads, 18 pairs of football boots and 20 footballs to each club. A similar gesture will be given to each of the regional third division teams across the country. Those materials are already procured and available and its presentation will be held in the regions at a later date.
The presented materials are a manifestation of the GFF’s commitment to ensure sustainable development of the feminine game to go in tandem with their men counterparts, according to the President of the GFF Rtd. Captain Lamin Kaba Bajo, who also catalogued the tremendous achievements of women’s football under his leadership.
“I think we are not doing badly in women’s football. Since 2014 to date, the achievements are evident. The women’s football development under this current executive has seen some tremendous achievements which earned us the attention of our international partners, mainly FIFA and CAF,” he affirmed.
“We are not the only members of FIFA and CAF but I can tell you at the moment when it comes to women’s football we are a darling. We are lucky to be part of a pilot project that was implemented by CAF last year. That’s the 6-a-side U-15 tournament and we are out of only 16 countries in Africa that were chosen to implement the project and the report on that is very encouraging. We scored a grade A on that, which have further encouraged and challenged us to do more.”
Mr. Bajo added that prior to this the Federation had implemented a six-month project that was funded by the German Government under the German Olympic Committee in partnership with The Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
“Because of the satisfactory implementation of the project we were able to earn a two-year project and we have all seen that have touched the length and breadth of the country. Before that we had the FIFA Live Your Goals, a four-year legacy program that had also recorded immense success. We are currently implementing a UEFA Assist Program, through FIFA, in which we received confirmation from UEFA that the Irish FA [Football Association] has agreed to partner with us to development women’s football,” he added. “This is an achievement for all of us to relate and celebrate and there is no doubt that this will add to the development of women’s football.”
Speaking earlier, the Third Vice President, Rtd. General Langtombong Tamba described the donation as a milestone achievement for women’s football. “Because of the issue of transparency, a board was constituted in which members of the Women’s Football Committee were part of and it led to the purchase of these materials. That is why you will notice that most of the teams will be in the colours they have chosen,” he disclosed.
“The GFF attaches great importance to women’s football because we are aware that we cannot be proud to say that we have achieved success in football when male alone have been seen on the limelight. In fact, you must have noticed that in most of your matches, the President himself will be appearing at them.”
Maimuna Kanteh, a Women Representative in the GFF Executive Committee thanked the GFF for the materials, which according to her will help a lot of clubs to safe cost. The vote of thanks was delivered by Mariama Bah on behalf of the beneficiaries. She thanked the football leadership for the foresight and assured that the materials will be put into good use.