Lamin King Colley, chairman of the Western Region Sports Committee has revealed that national sports associations belong to the people and as such should serve in the best interest of the citizenry. He said that national sports associations must not be used as a venture for self-enrichment, noting that such concept no doubt contributes to the retardation of sports development in the country.

King Colley made these remarks during the first-ever general congress of The Gambia Weight Lifters and Body Builders Association held at the Independence Stadium on Sunday.

The Brikama Youth and Sports Committee president said sports associations must be formed based on national interest, adding that this must also adhere to the national sports policy that is serving as a guideline. He expressed his dismay over some dormant associations, describing their formation as baseless since their failure to register any success.

‘’It is always very painful and sad to see some associations calling themselves national associations when they don’t even have a good structure. How can one consider such associations functional if they cannot even organise national leagues.”

In fact some of them are not even making any effort to see that their disciplines are decentralised “

King Colley turned bold when single out The Gambia Athletics Association (GAA) as one such association who has failed to live up to expectations.

He said: “ A big association like the GAA only make execute their administrative works during ceremonial events. Any time you go to their Independence Stadium based offices, the doors are always locked.”

“How can there be an administrative work and proper planing for sports development in such offices,’’ he chastised.