The Gambia Football Federation has on Monday 5th November launched a Two- Year Women’s Football Development project at its Office in Kanifing. This is sequel to the signing of an MoU by the Minister of Youth and Sports Hon Hadrammeh Sidibeh on the 29th August, 2018 specifying the development areas for Women’s Football in the Gambia.
The launch will secure the services of renowned Women’s Football expert Monika Staab to stay with the Gambia Football Federation for a two year period( 2018-2020). Monika was in the country in her second visit last year for a two month Women’s Football program where the GFF and its partners initiated the long term project that ushered her return to the smiling Coast for the third time.
Speaking at the occasion, GFF President Lamin Kaba Bajo described the event as historic and said its a very important project for the Gambia Football Federation. ‘ We worked on this project a year ago and it is launched today and we are all happy that we witness the day’.
Mr Bajo thanked the German government through the German Foreign Affairs Office and the Gambia government for the support to making this project a reality. He informed the gathering that German government has taken responsibility to fully fund Monika Staab’s two year sojourn in the country.
He assured Monika of Football House’s undiluted support to her cause.’ We will create the enabling environment for you and it is the same as we did it for you last year’.
A representative of the Gambia National Olympic Committee, Ousman Wadda thanked the renowned Women’s Football expert Monika Staab for her steadfast in promoting Women’s Football in the Gambia and also assured her of the NOC’s fullest support to her initiatives.
Also speaking at the launch event was the Minister of Youth and Sports Hon Hadrammeh Sidibeh who hailed the GFF for their efforts to promote Women’s Football. ‘ I am really impressed with the level Women’s Football is taking in the country. This is great and i want to commend the GFF for that’. Hon Sidibeh assured Monika and the GFF that his Ministry will support their initiatives all the way.
Director General for Africa Affairs at the German Embassy in Dakar Dr Philipp Ackermann said giving girls the opportunity is so enormous and thus a lot of positive things could be derived from it. ‘ Monika is a world class Coach and the Gambia can benefit hugely from her technical know how’.
Dr Ackermann described the relationship between the Gambia and Germany as positive. ‘ This is reflective of the partnership Germany has with the Gambia and our friendship is big’.
The MoU includes amongst others:
- Conception and implementation of a sustainable competition system and regular tournaments of the different age groups within the Football for Women and girls on regional and national level.
- It also seeks to further develop the educational system and realization of further trainings for Referees
- Create awareness in the society through activities like Women’s Football Workshops/Symposiums/Festivals and etc
- It will also advice the GFF and all the further institutions involved in the fields of Football for Women and girls for a basic and further training for Coaches and Teachers
- Creating and implementing a program to improve Football structures for Women and girls on a regional and national level with a special focus on children’s and youth Football
- Organizing and holding seminars and courses on basic and further training for Coaches, sport teachers, sport instructors and club officials
- Establish profile template for national players’ pathway
- Development of talent search and talent promotion
