The five days MA Course for Referees came to a close on Wednesday 2nd October at the GFF National Technical Training Centre in Yundum with a graduation of 3o Gambian Referees. The Course earmarked for both FIFA and non badge holders also saw the participation of Africa’s best and Gambia’s finest knight of the whistle Bakary Papa Gassama amongst others.
Speaking at the mid week closing ceremony, GFF President and Chairman of Referees Committee Lamin Kaba Bajo, first expressed gratitude to FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Secretary General Fatma Samura for giving The Gambia another opportunity to host the annual course. Mr Bajo said GFF will continue to create an environment of peace and tranquility while providing the Referees a space to exhibit their talents and search for opportunities.
He however challenged the participants to take the lessons learnt with all seriousness. “Your performance on the pitch has great impact on the players. I challenge you all to implement them in the coming leagues. We get our funds from FIFA and one of the fundamental requirements is to run leagues. So take our leagues very seriously”. The GFF Boss further indulged on the participants to be impactful in their performances while also imploring on them to be positive in their attitudes and mannerisms.
Mr Bajo on his final note, said the football leadership will not relent on its core mandate to implement punitive measures against Referees that might be found wanting due to professional misconduct. ” You must all desist from any forms of bribery, betting and unethical behaviors. Be humble and content with what you have”, President Bajo advised.
Course Director Ali Ahmed, also expressed satisfaction on the general conduct of the Course while heaping gratitude to the GFF President for his personal commitment towards the growth and advancement of Gambian Referees. The Somali born FIFA Instructor said out of the lots of FIFA assignments across Africa, ” this course stands out the best for me because the Federation has given us all the necessary support and we will leave the Gambia as happy instructors”. He said The Gambia should be proud of herself for having a Football President like Lamin Kaba Bajo described as “humble, opened and a source of inspiration for us all” and also producing a renowned and best Referee on the continent in Bakary Papa Gassama whose experience and contributions will make life easier for Gambian Referees.
Also speaking earlier was GFF General Secretary Lamin M Jassey who referred refereeing as a “daunting responsibility” that requires integrity and wide knowledge. He said the participants are lucky because they have someone within their midst (Papa Gassama) to help and assist them in their work.
Jassey assured the participants of the Secretariat’s support and commitment to the cause of Referees noting that the profession is an important facet in the development of football. “History shouldn’t die, so I implore you all to learn from Bakary Papa Gassama and grow to be bigger and better” he said. He also urged the Referees Association to engage the women in the coming leagues while expressing satisfaction and pride in their recent achievements.
Giving his vote of thanks on behalf of the participants, Bakary Papa Gassama noted the significance of the day as been manifested by the presence of both President Bajo and GS Jassey.”We have a president who will climb mountains to see us achieve our dreams and become great. Let us embrace these opportunities”, he said. Gassama said the Federation’s backbone is the Referees. “If players make mistakes, it’s the coach who is to be blamed but anytime the Referees make mistakes, it surely goes to the president as the Head of the Referees Committee too”. He advised his colleagues to be calm, humble, punctual, determined, train and continue learning. “Across over fifty seminars I attended, this is one of the best because of the type of Instructors we have..
The ceremony was also attended by GFF Human Resources and Admin Manager Dr Demba Darboe
