The Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, Alhagi Mass Axi Gai has challenged the Banjul Sports Committee to develop and maintain sports in Banjul.

He told the committee to endeavour and bring back the glory days of Banjul sports, especially in the super nawettan cup, which used to be dominated by Banjul who have struggled in the tournament for the past years.

Secretary of State Gai made these comments when the Executive Committee of the Banjul Sports paid him a courtesy call recently.

He threw his weight behind the committee for employing disciplinary measures to ensure that discipline and fair play are the order of the day in the nation’s capital city.
“Discipline must be instilled and if it requires tough measures to ensure that the youths abide by the rules, the committee should not shirk from that responsibility,” he said.
SoS Gai also urged the committee to assist City Girls FC, the only divisional female team from Banjul.

"The committee should assist in organising and providing City Girls FC with the necessary financial assistance for the smooth running of the team,” he urged.
He also cautioned the Banjul Sports Committee to be honest in their dealings with the youths.

"You should avoid youths having something to point at you.  Make sure honesty is the guiding principle of each and every committee member. It is only that way that the youths will respect and trust you,” said SoS Gai who further urged the committee to always promise what they can deliver.

The President of the Banjul Sports Committee, Modou Sowe, thanked SoS Gai for receiving his committee.

He assured SoS Gai of his committee’s undiluted efforts to develop sports in Banjul.
The Banjul Sports Committee Secretary-General, Ebou Faye opined that the Secretary of State Gai should look at the human resource base of sports in the country, as according to him, most of the problems in sport arise due to the inability of those administering and running sports.

“Also the role of sports in the National Youth Conference and Festival (NAYCONF) needs to be looked at as sport is only included to spice up the occasion. NAYCONF should be geared towards developing grassroot and decentralisation of sports towards meeting the vision 2020 sports development", he added.