(Monday 24th August 2009 issue)

As the FIFA U-17 World Cup inches closer, the marketing committee that is instituted by the Gambia Football Association to raise fund for the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that the targeted sum of D13 million  is raised before the mega football showdown.

In his opening statement at the launch of the Gambia’s National U-17 road to Nigeria at the Joint Officer’s Mess in Kotu last Friday, the Chairman of the eight-member committee, Lt Lang Tombong Tamba, who doubles as the 1^st Vice-President of the Gambia Football Association was indeed overwhelmed to give a statement on the occasion of the U-17 road to Nigeria.

‘It could be recalled that sometimes back it was in this very hall where we witnessed the launching of the U-17 National team road to Algeria which was very successful in the sense that it has helped us win the Africa U-17 cadet championship title after thumping the host Algeria 3-1 in the final,” the newly appointed GNOC President highlighted.

Lt General Tamba further went on to remind the entire Gambian football fraternity about the remarkable successes registered by the Darling U-17 team, which every Gambian was happy to be associated with, noting that the wish of the nation was to be crowned the African Champions, which he added, was successfully achieved through the contributions of public and private individuals.

C D S Tamba emphasised the need for every Gambian to give support to the U-17 team road to Nigeria, given the fact that government alone cannot overcome the challenges that are faced in the development of sports. He urged for collective efforts in order to raise the needed funds necessary to equip them.

The Army Chief of Defence Staff, who has always proven to be instrumental in sports development in the country, pledged an amount of five thousand Dalasi as part of his contribution towards U-17 road to Nigeria. He made a pledge of five thousand Dalasi, on behalf of the

President of the Gambia Football Association, Seedy M.B. Kinteh, who was not present at the ceremony.

For his part, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mambanyik Njie, said “it is the recognition by the government that each alone cannot run the affairs of our national teams, particularly football”.

The government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Gambia Football Association, have always endeavoured to engage the private sector in financing the activities of our national teams, P.S noted.

He added “when we talk about the development fund, we must emphasise our thanks and appreciation to the President Sheik.Pro.Dr.Alh.Yayha. A.J.J. Jammeh for taken the lead in initiating the national sports fund, in which institutions like social security, Gamtel\Gamcel, GCAA, GIA, NAWEC and the Gambia Ports Authority are supposed to be contributing towards the national sports development fund”.

Mambanyik Njie further revealed that the Minister of Youth and Sports, Honourable Sheriff M.L. Gomez is very optimistic that the marketing committee that was put in place has the capacity to raise the required fund, with the support of every Gambian either individually or collectively.

He promised to pledge D2,500 in August and D2,500 in September as part of his personal contribution towards the National U-17 road to Nigeria. He expressed hope that other institutions will emulate the gesture of the Gambia Ports Authority as the first institution to make a pledge, amounting to three hundred thousand Dalasi even though they contributed 2 million Dalasi towards the sports fund.

The Interim Committee of the National Sports Council, Mustapha Alex Dacosta also pledged an amount of D4000, while Babucarr Ceesay of the GFA Protocol Committee pledged D3000, on behalf of Manjai Kunda Sports Committee.

Mr. Ceesay also pledged D2,000 on behalf of the GFA Protocol Committee.

Sarja Sambou, the Human Resource Manager of Gambega, spoke about his institution’s readiness to make their pledge, while the Gambia Civil Aviation also promised to come out to make their own contribution for the U-17 national team road to Nigeria.

Any individual, institution or company that wish to make a pledge can contact Ousman Wadda  of GFA on 9900025 or Abdoulie Jallow of the Central Bank of the Gambia.