Secretary of State for Youths and Sports has said that his Department will always continue to compliment the efforts of facilitators in Youths Development.

He said the government has created the needed environment for investment in youth and sports and any individual or institution willing to support or render some assistance to Gambians in any aspects of Youth and sports development shall have the blessing of the Department of State for Youths and Sports.

SOS Axi Gye made this remarks while addressing members of the Gambia Football Coaches Association together with their Swedish counterparts who arrived from Sweden to conduct a training programme for Gambia coaches and Physical

Education teachers as part of a four year exchange programme between the GFCA and Gambiagrupperner in Sweden. The exchange aims to develop and capacitate Gambian Coaches.

He said his department will continue to endeavour to make sure the relationship between the GFCA and Gambiagrupperner will remain a continuous one for the benefit of the two countries.

He recognised the important role played by Pa Fofana, former Gambia international, in facilitating the partnership and called on Gambians abroad for more assistance.

“Gambia is full of young talents all we need is programmes like this to nurture them” SOS Gye pointed.

Pa Suwareh Faye, President of The Gambia football Coaches Association, said as part of the partnership they have benefited a lot adding that their constraints in football are now becoming a thing of the past.

CAJ HJELM head of the Swedish delegation expressed gratitude for the formation of the exchange programme. He said, “ this has helped in creating more awareness between the two countries”. He hoped that in the future the programme would be extended into the schools.

Pa Musa Fofana said the Gambiagrupperner would always be ready to render assistance in future undertakings.

Mambanyick Njie Deputy Permanent Secretary, who chaired the occasion, commended the delegation and the Gambia coaches Association for forging the partnership.

The Swedish delegation presented a book containing the history of Nykoping and other gifts to SOS Axi Gye. According to them the history of Nykoping was a gift from the Mayor of Nykoping in Sweden.

The Swedish delegation was made up of four coaches CAJ HJELM, Anita Jonasson, Maria Hagfalk Woss, and Pa Musa Fofana.