The Gambia Football Federation has appointed Gambia’s all time veteran Football administrator and former Football Association President Alhagie Ousman B Conateh ( Fisco ) as Chairman of its Football Legends Committee. The appointment was announced at a launch of the Committee on Friday April 27th at the Football House in Kanifing presided over by the GFF President Lamin Kabba Bajo.
In his inaugural speech at the launch of the Legends Identification Committee, Kabba first congratulated the Committee for their appointments and accepting to serve once again in continuous services to Football in the Gambia. ‘ This is one of the legacy programs the GFF intends to do as part of its Strategic Development Vision which is to really identify Football men and women that have really excelled during their time’. President Bajo said the best time to recognize such people is during their life time and ‘ no better time than now’. He said the GFF Executive has selected the Committee to give it the fair and independence to be able to do an honest and fair selection. ‘ Football is not only on the pitch, but the managers, coaches, referees, fans, etc are all inclusive’, Kabba pointed out.
The Football Legends Committee has amongst others the following Terms of References:
To help identify Gambian Football legends
Come up with a citation of the legends
Organize TV and Radio programs to raise and create public forum and interaction
To submit the list and recommend to the GFF
The Chairman of the Committee Alh OB Conateh thanked the Football leadership for the positive foresight in selecting a Committee that is ‘ enriched’ with knowledge of Football. ‘ I am very much moved by appointing me into this august Committee. I am very much convinced that the Committee would work very hard despite their schedules to meet up your expectation’. The GFF Honorary Life President consider the membership as men of impeccable character, committed to Football development and knowledgeable.
GFF ExCO members Martin Gomez and Bakary K Jammeh both hailed the Legends Committee as giants in Football and thus the GFF has no mistake in the appointment of the imminent personalities. GFF 3rd Vice President Gomez said the GFF will give the Committee all its support to making their work successful while ExCO member Bakary K Jammeh described the team as a legendary Committee.’ The legends made us what we are today’, Jammeh pointed out.
Other members of the Committee include veteran journalist Pap Saine who also thanked the GFF for the appointment and promised to work hard and live up to expectation. ‘ I want to thank the GFF for the trust and confidence bestowed on us. Your foresight is very positive because it is the first time that a Football Federation has come up with such’.
A Committee member Cherno Barra Touray also echoed similar thanks and said ‘ this is well appreciated because yesterday build up for tomorrow’.
Mr George Gomez is the Vice Chairman of the Committee while President of the Sports Journalists Association of the Gambia ( SJAG ) Musa Sise serves as the Secretary and also include Tijan Masanneh Ceesay and Alagi Faye.
One minute silence was observed in loving memory of GFF Executive Committee adviser Late Alh Omar Sey whose services to Gambian Football according to the Committee is immeasurable.
The ceremony was chaired by GFF General Secretary Lamin M Jassey.
The Committee is expected to complete its task at the end of May for submission to the GFF