22 football academies across the country, according to the President of the Gambia Football Coaches Association, who doubles as the Assistant Director of Sports, Pa Suwareh Faye, have all demonstrated a remarkable performance which eventually earned them a place in the second round of the inter-academy football that is currently in session in different venues.

He described the GFA organised inter-academy football tournament as a way of bringing the young players in order to catch them at a very tender age, hence the future of sport is in the hands of the youngsters who will represent the country as they grow up.

The ultimate objective of organising this inter-football academy tournament, the former Under 17 Head Coach added “is geared towards bringing the young players in order to train them together  to capacitise the coaches from these academies by given them proper training up to the highest level, including the administrators as part of their efforts to attain excellence in sports”.   

“The purpose of the tournament would soon be achieved because you can see the commitment and dedication from the players, the coaches and the administrators, despite the fact that we are in the holy month of Ramadan”, Pa Faye told our reporter in his office at the Independence Stadium on Tuesday.

A total of 44 teams participated in the ongoing academy football tournament, but 22 were eliminated during the first round.

The best defensive and offensive team of the tournament, the most outstanding player of the tournament, the leading goal scorer of the tournament and the most disciplined player of the tournament, according to Pa Faye, will receive awards at the end of the tournament.