The staff of the Technical Department of The Gambia Football Federation (GFF), on Monday held a consultative meeting with coaches of all 14 first division teams, where they reviewed and evaluated the technical aspects of the first round of the domestic first division competition of the Federation.
Speaking to the GFF’s official website, Mr. Sang John Ndong, the Technical Director of the Federation said the meeting was held to postmortem the first round of the division one season and give technical advice to the coaches. He added that this came after his technical staff/National Team Coaches embarked on a survey to find out why the second division is recording more goals and more wins than the first division?
”The last five games were closely monitored by our National Team Coaches, we found out that finishing, [lack of] penetrating passes, crosses and goal scoring are a problem in the division,” Mr. Ndong said, adding that they also found out that the teams’ lack urgency in their play. “They prefer holding on to the ball than going forward, which is a concern that needs urgent solutions because it is reflecting on our national teams.”
Mr. Ndong stated that the discussions were very fruitful and recommendations were made to improve the state of the first division. “We offer to assist the coaches by visiting their training grounds and working with them more closely,” he promised.
Sang said the first division coaches recommends that such meetings be held frequently, noting that player development is key, because according to him most of the players playing in the first division are not mature as they are taking straight from the ‘Nawettans’ to play first division football. “We are trying as a technical department to put down structures for things to improve; we have started our primary/grassroots schools football and plans are underway for the start of the upper basic and senior schools tournaments,” he concluded.
Reporting by Ebrima Suwareh
Editing by Baboucarr Camara