The Association of Gambia Sports Journalists congress held on Saturday, August 11 at the Independence Stadium, Bakau, would be declared “null and void,” after some parties failed to honour the exact date set for the congress.

The triennial congress was earlier set for August 24, 2007, as it was agreed by the general body in a special meeting held on Saturday, July 28, at the Gambia Red Cross Society Headquarters in Kanifing.

However, certain individuals, including the then President Namory Trawally who never attended the July 28 meeting, claimed they want to hold the congress on August 11. This proposal was struck out by the general body, most of who maintained that an absentee cannot overrule a decision reached at in a meeting.

To the surprise of many, however, the congress was held on August 11, in the absence of most of the key members, and this has triggered many to call it a bogus congress that was held unconstitutionally just to satisfy selfish desire.

“We have some individuals who want to lead just to satisfy their selfish desire. The association is for practising sports journalists who are toiling for the development of sports in our country. And the association must be led by competent people.

But this is not the case now. The key players in Gambian sports development have been forced to take the back seat and this is unacceptable,” a disappointed member told Observer Sports yesterday.

“We will have to hold a fresh congress to elect the right people in the right place. And until then, there is no legally elected executive.”

Meanwhile, members who disassociated themselves with the August 11 congress includes Benjamin Wally Joof of West Coast Radio, Abdul Gafar of Daily Express, Moses Ndeen of City Limits Radio, Momodou Nyang of Forooya Newspaper, Nanama Keita of the Daily Observer among others.