A week long Referees training has kicked off at the National Technical Training Center in Yundum on Wednesday 18th September for newly accepted and aspiring Female Referees under the raider of the Gambia Football Federation.
The participants numbering 30 are undergoing basic training to induct them into the laws of the game and the basics skills of Referees. The event is organized by the GFF as part of the Federation’s core mandate in the CARM (Coaches, Administrators, Referees and Medics ) project as encapsulated in the football leadership’s National Development Plan.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on behalf of the GFF President Lamin Kaba Bajo, Executive Committee Member Alagie Faye said the training program is meant amongst others to encourage and strengthen the participation of women in football. “The president has always been very particular about the development of women football and this is another step in the right direction”, he said.
Faye a member of the Referees Committee said the Federation intends to groom more FIFA Female referees in the coming years. He expressed pride in the current FIFA Female Referees under the auspices of the GFF and thus advised the incoming ones to take the training seriously “because refereeing is not a joke and FIFA is very serious about the involvement of Female Referees”, he concluded.
Deputy Lead Instructor and Referees Committee member John Frank Mendy said the training is timely. “We have few female FIFA referees currently with the GFF and so more efforts need to be done to ensure that we have more female referees to officiate female league Matches”, he said.
Mendy thanked the Federation with the support of the Coordinator of the Gambia-German Women’s Football Project Monika Staab for scouting and Considering such a training. He said with the quality of referees instructors and coaches abound in the country, participants will be “molded” to represent the Gambia as expected.
Gambia German Women’s Football Project Coordinator Monica Staab also expressed delight and satisfaction about the Football leadership’s fulfillment of what has been a key agenda for the GFF. “Women football in the Gambia is now taking a positive trend with high pace”, she noted.
Key amongst the areas are Laws of the game (1-5), Qualities of refereeing and some physical practices.
participants are drawn from the Gambia College, University of the Gambia other institutions and the training will cap off on the 22nd with a presentation of certificates to participants.
