The Gambia Football Federation is dismayed with a recent story carried on the Foroyaa Newspaper as published in their Monday 27th April, 2020 edition “A Look At Ex-Gambia National Team Players Who Went On To Bag A Uefa Coaching License”.
The article chronicled a few notable erstwhile Gambian players whose path upon retirement is routed to Coaching while others went into oblivion. However, in the article portrayed for former Gambian international Cherno Samba, the author baffled that Samba could not have become Scorpions Coach as his biggest accomplishment for the Gambia hence he has Tom Saintfiet, a non Uefa A License holder standing in his way.
This is a non-fact and absolutely preposterous intended to portray a negative image of Tom Saintfiet. We wish to make it clear that the Belgian is one of the highest qualified coaches in the World. He holds the UEFA Pro License, the highest existing license anyone can have. In fact, for one to acquire a UEFA Pro License, one need naturally all the other UEFA Licenses as an initial requirement. Tom Saintfiet at the age of 26, had his UEFA A license and was probably one of the youngest in the World. To add more pedigree to this accolades, the Saint bags a science degree in Sport and Business Psychology, a Physical coaching license and has studied skill & development training.
What else of a qualification is needed for such a kind of great tactician? No coach in the circles (not Klopp, Mourinho, Wenger, Guardiola, …) because there is no higher license than what he has.
The GFF is so proud that the Gambia has probably one of the highest qualified coaches in African football and in the World. This is due not only of his UEFA Pro license but also of the catalogue of the other degrees and licenses.
Profile
Name: Tom Saintfiet
D.O.B: 29th March, 1973
Nationality: Belgian
Languages: Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish,
Qualification: UEFA PRO License
Job Experience: Senior National Team Head Coach of Namibia, Malta, Trinidad and Tobago, Bangladesh, Togo, Malawi, Yemen, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe.
Mr. Saintfiet has a wide range of knowledge and experience in coaching National Teams across the world, particularly in Africa. Given his vast knowledge and experience in coaching we trust that he will help advance all aspect of Gambian football during his reign.
We however wish to congratulate and commend the mentioned former Gambia National Team players who chose the path of venturing into coaching by successfully earning their respective certificates with flying colors. The GFF further encourage them in their endeavors to continue contributing to the development of the game in the country. They are icons whose contributions shall ever be remembered.