The Director for Youths and Sports Sait Mbye has lauded the Gambia Cricket Association for taking a bold step to restructure the game of Cricket in the country.

He said cricket used to be the second most popular game in the past after football and The Gambia used to produce the best players in the sub-region.

“But in recent times it has lost popularity and the Gambia Cricket Association is doing all that it can to revive the game,” he explained.

Director Sait Mbye was speaking at the opening of a three-day level one International Cricket Council certificate coaching course, organised by the Gambia Cricket Association, which kicked off yesterday at the YMCA.

He said the Department of State for Youths and Sports is poised to ensure that every sport is revived in and Cricket is no exception.

“As part of efforts in this regard, we have set up an interim committee to facilitate the process,” he said.

Director Mbye’s opening address urged the 15 Gambian Coaches to take the training seriously. He said, as coaches they should be teachers, role models, good instructors and good great team leaders.

Speaking earlier, Abdul Aziz Titao Mendy of the National Sports Council, spoke voluminously of the good organisation of the Cricket Association and advised participants to promote cricket in the country.

John Gomez Vice-President of the Gambia Cricket Association chaired the opening.

The level one coaching certificate is sponsored by the International, Cricket Council and the Africa Cricket Association in collaboration with the Gambia Cricket Association.