The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) and UEFA this week launched the UEFA Assist Program aimed at enhancing the capacity of women and girls in football at the grassroots level.
The initiative, funded by the European football governing body, is part of the Federation’s drive to position women’s football at the highest level in order to ease the transition of playing from the school level to the elite clubs for the development of girls and women. Monica Staab, a German women’s football expert, is the resource person tasked with the implementation of the one-month long program.
Speaking at the launch ceremony held at the Football House in Kanifing, the GFF’s Women’s Football Coordinator Mrs. Sainey Sissoho-M’Boge underscored the significance of the program, describing it as timely. “We want to see women’s football to have a solid foundation and structures put in place. We want to have a good transition from the U-15, U-17, U-23 to the senior team,” she affirmed, adding that the program will also include capacity building for grassroots coaches.
Ms. Sainabou Cham, the Chairperson of the Women’s Football Committee, expressed delight with the initiative and thanked the GFF leadership for the continuous support. “This project will help us a lot in developing the capacities of our coaches at the regional level. Women’s football development is a key facet of the GFF development agenda,” she said, while challenging the regions to make best use of the opportunity.
Monica expressed gratitude to be part of what she described as a great initiative again in The Gambia. She said The Gambia is among the six lucky chosen countries from 54 Member African Associations to benefit from this project. “Gambia is chosen as one of the six counties in Africa that is largely due to the efforts the GFF is doing to enhance the growth and development of women’s football. We need this program. The foundation is key and without it, the pyramid will collapse.”
The Third Vice President and head of women’s and grassroots football at the GFF, Rtd. General Langtombong Tamba highlighted the importance of the program, stating that it is the ideal format for a smooth transition from the respective categories to the elite team. “The GFF have a very rich program to promote football at all levels. This is also an opportunity for talents at the regions to be groomed and eventually featured in the various national categories of football,” Gen Tamba said, while acknowledging the efforts of the Women’s Football Unit under the Technical Department for always going the extra mile to achieve success. He assured them of the Federation’s full support for a successful campaign.
While expressing gratitude to UEFA and all partners, Gen. Tamba on behalf of the GFF President reassured the Women’s Football Committee that the Federation under the leadership of Mr. Lamin Kaba Bajo will continue to support and promote women’s football development to be at par with other countries across Africa and the world at large.