The Gambia Football Federation over the weekend embarked on a nationwide tour as part of its outreach activities to interface with stakeholders in the regions. The tour headed by GFF President Lamin Kaba Bajo took off from the North Bank Region in Kerewan where a meeting was convened with the NBR football stakeholders.
The tour party had deliberations on competition matters, technical, youth and grassroots, women’s football, finance and administration where the various speakers gave an overview of the topics and the current development around the said areas which according to President Bajo are prerequisites for any meaningful football development.
The Kaba and Executive has made adequate fulfillment of the demands requested for the growth and development of football in the regions. The tour party informed the regional stakeholders about the new FIFA flagship FORWARD 2 PROGRAM conceived by President Infantino to alienate and conform with the best practices that one meets in order to access funding from the program.
The GFF General Secretary Lamin Jassey delved into the program and informed stakeholders about the phases of the program and that June 2019 will see the beginning of the second segment where funds according to him would be coming in bits after completion of each precondition as stipulated in the program. He therefore indulged on the administrators to get abreast with the demands of the job and live up to report writing and timely submission of reports.
The tour team also emphasized on the stakeholders to begin and continue work on grassroots football. GFF 2nd Vice PRESIDENT Ebou Faye maintained that grassroots is the base of competitive football and implored on the regions to dedicate time and resources to harness the untapped potentials at the schools and local communities. He said school football must be visible and practical and thus the signing of the MoU between the GFF and the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has now allowed the GFF to be working directly with the schools at all levels. He outlined the football calendar and said the regions must conform with the GFF set up.
Women’s Football Coordinator Sainey Sissohore-Mboge also briefly deliberated on women’s football, describing it as key and vital priority of the Kaba led Executive. She informed stakeholders of the successes registered over the period through the creation of a national women’s football league in the Gambia. The WFC also informed the stakeholders about GFF’s securing of the renowned women’s football expert Monika Staab, who is currently working with the GFF for the next two years.
The team thus encouraged the regions to step up in their endeavors in the running of the women’s league throughout and to work closely with the schools.
GFF 3rd Vice President Lang Tombong Tamba who is overseeing grassroots and youth football also took time to inform stakeholders of GFF’s continuous desire to uplift the standard f grassroots football in all the regions. He said the catch them young phrase should not be only by lip service but instead practical. He said the GFF is working with football academies in helping to curb the menace of age cheating in our game.
Each of the seven regions received a set of match balls in Size 5/Size 4, cones, training gears for coach educators, lap tops, motorbikes (two each for WCR and CRR) and a cheque of D83,000:00 for the kick start of their programs. President Bajo advised the recipients to take good care of the items and make use of its intended purpose. He said work must begin hence the delivering of the items which is meant to enhance work and increase performance.