The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) has learnt with deep sorrow and sadness, the demise of Mr. Baba Jeng, Chief Executive Officer of the Bansang Hospital. His demise is indeed heartbreaking, a devastating blow and an irreparable loss for us all because he was someone who had contributed immensely to the development of football in The Gambia and the Central River Region in particular.
When the current leadership of the GFF took over the mantle in 2014, it was done on the premise of giving our domestic game a national character, by ensuring that the national leagues are played countrywide. This was at a time when the national league was only played within the borders of Banjul and Brikama. We’re very much aware how he transformed Medical Football Club, a club that was playing in the local Nawettan in Bansang for two decades, into a national league team within a space of just one year.
It was his vision to conceive a campaign called ‘Sports for Blood’ at the Hospital which saw the various Units and Departments produce teams in a football competition geared towards supporting the Hospital’s blood bank with each team producing 10 pines of blood in place of a registration fee and maintaining physical fitness through football. Having himself captained the Management Team, he later conceived the idea of registering the team to play in the Regional Football Association’s third division league for the 2019 season and won promotion to the national second division in the same season, making it the first team from CRR to qualify for the national league.
It was also through Mr. Jeng’s foresight that the Hospital was able to employ more than half of the team’s playing and coaching staff. He also ensured that the Management is flexible with their work schedules so as to meet their football commitments. In this time of grave pain, agony and bereavement, Football House is in solidarity with the family of Mr. Jeng, his friends and colleagues while we continue to pray for his soul to rest in eternal peace in Jannah.
Statement signed by:
Lamin M. Jassey
General Secretary/C.E.O.
