The First Vice President of The Gambia Football Federation (GFF), Mr. Bakary K. Jammeh has hailed the work and contributions of the late Alhaji Omar Sey and other legends that have contributed positively in shaping the development of the country, football in particular.
Speaking to our reporter on the sidelines of the finals of a football competition organised by the Federation in honour of the late baron, Mr. Jammeh said the GFF has conceived the idea of organising the tournament to pay tribute to Gambian legends which will be contested by top teams on an annual basis.
“Legends never die. This is the beginning of the recognition of many legends and we have taken the decision to recognise everybody within our knowledge and power who has contributed to football in The Gambia,” Mr. Jammeh affirmed.
Born in Basse in the Upper River Region, the late Sey grew up to become an iconic and a symbolic visionary leader the fruits of whose hard work The Gambia, Africa and the world continues to reap. He died in March 2018. He has done it all, from the educational institutions as a lecturer at the then Teacher Training College in Yundum, the inaugural Director of the Department of Youth, Sports and Culture, The Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC), to becoming a football idol in CAF and FIFA and also an External Affairs Minister in the First Republic.
Mr. Jammeh, whom the late Sey acted as his godfather, recollected the numerous contributions that the late Omar Sey did, noting that he was the architect of the current GFF. “He wrote the GFF Constitution with FIFA, thus helping in the achievement of the decentralisation of football in the country amongst others.”
He further stated that the maiden edition of the late Alhaji Omar Sey tournament couldn’t have come at a better time. “I think it’s better late than never. This tournament is one of many that we look forward to do better and bigger. It was well organised and everyone showed solidarity,” Jammeh said, while thanking the organising committee through the Third Vice President Rtd. General Langtombong Tamba, the Sey family, fans and the media. He also ceased the opportunity to congratulate Real de Banjul for winning the trophy while commensurating with the beaten finalists Marimoo.
