In a show of pomp and fanfare, a primary school football competition for girls in Banjul schools today 11th April, 2019, came to an intriguing end at the McCarthy Suqare in Banjul. The three-month competition is organised by The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) in partnership with fuel supply giants PetroGas.
Six schools numbering one hundred and fifty kids took part in the six-aside games. The final was attended by the third Vice President of the GFF, General Lang Tombong Tamba. The kids were supervised by teachers and support staff of the Banjul Regional Football Association under the auspices of Coach Kebba Njie, alias Bacha.
After series of sided games, where kids displayed skills in dribbling, ball control and passing, they were grouped back for the final session wherein the schools played each other but on a random selection of girls coordinated by Coach Njie. The session took off for an hour with periodic water breaks and was watched by a sizeable number of onlookers around the pavements of the square.
General Tamba while addressing the kids congratulated them and their teachers for the successful completion of the project, describing it as satisfactory and enjoyable. He said the GFF is focused on its strategic plan to develop all facets of football, including grassroots; “because it is the base for football development.” General Tamba urged the kids to take football seriously, noting that sports can make you a successful person in future. He thanked Petrol Gas for partnering with the GFF for the successful implementation of the project. He thanked Bacha for the hard work, dedication and steadfastness at all times while heaping praises on the project director Monika Staab and her colleague Sainey Sissohore for doing a good job.
Monika Staap, who doubles as the lead trainer, said she is very proud that the programme has come to a conclusion, noting that it was going on since February this year. She added that the programme will go a long way in closing the gap between men’s and women’s football in the country. “I’m very confident that one of you will become a national team player as Sainey Sissoho did when she represented Gambia as a 15-year-old and scored a goal,” she added, while thanking the GFF, PetroGas, Bacha and the physical education teachers for working tirelessly to make sure the programme becomes successful.
On her part, Madam Barrow Touray-Sawo the retail manager at PetroGas, speaking on behalf of the sponsors, expressed her delight to be associated with the programme. She said there is a link between sports and education, noting that the sessions given to the girls during the programme will boost their intelligence. She told the kids that they are very lucky to have the opportunity, saying during her days they did not have the chance of such programmes.
Dodou Janko a PE teacher from St Joseph’s Lower Basic School in delivering the vote of thanks said they are very happy with the assistance they received from the GFF and PetroGas, expressing confidence that with such programmes been organised frequently, the country will in the not too distant future be at the same level with other nations in women’s football development.