The First Vice-President of the Gambia Football Association and Chief of Defence Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces, Brigadier-General Lang Tombong Tamba, has revealed that there was no contract agreement binding the Gambia Football Association with the German-based sports firm, Saller Sports.

Speaking at a press briefing held last night at the Independence Stadium, Bakau, Brigadier-General Tamba, said Sallers sport was equipping The Gambia National teams, based on mutual trust and understanding until such a time when both parties resolved to sign a formal agreement. He said the football association fulfilled its part of the agreement, by putting-a-pen to the draft copy, sent by Saller before sending it back for them (Saller Sports) to append their signature on it. He said up till today, the Gambia Football Association, has not received a draft copy, simply because Saller did not want the termination clause to be included in the agreement.

The GFA No. 2 said the issue of the termination clause, which stated that “either party can terminate the agreement by giving three (3) months notice in writing”, was the bone of contention between the two parties.

“Sometimes in July this year, Saller Agent Malick Camara served me a letter and I asked him what happened, he said, Saller said he cannot accept the termination clause included in the draft copy, because it does not favour him. He said if we want, we can delete the termination clause or he (Saller) will back out. We convened a meeting and tabled this matter before the Marketing Committee, who anonymously agreed that no contract can be signed without a termination clause being included.”

“The termination clause was meant to protect both parties and not only the Gambia Football Football Association. If we sign an agreement that has no termination, we can do things that do not confirm with the agreement, and what will Saller do since there is no termination clause and vice versa.”

“If the termination clause that was meant to protect both parties can be the cause of the pull out, then it came to us as a surprise,” Tamba said.

No direct contact

The GFA First Vice-President, said the agent Malick Camara introduced them to Saller, but later served as a stumbling-block between the football association and Saller Sports.

“Malick introduced us to Saller, but he never created the enabling environment for the football association to deal directly with Saller. There is always bound to be a problem when you have a mediator in such a deal. And Malick’s approach on behalf of Saller was very negative, having authored and made negative comments against the football association.”

Enough publicity

Brigadier-General Tamba, said Saller Sports has been equipping the National teams, but added that this was not done for free. He said The Gambia has participated in three major competitions (FIFA U-17 World Cup finals in Peru, U-20 Championship in Congo and FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in Canada) as the only country that wore Saller outfits, and according Tamba this was enough publicity for the German-based sports firm.

He also bemoaned the difficulties The Gambia went through during these competitions.

 “We went to Congo with only two sets of jerseys (one white, one blue), and what would have happened, if one set of jersey is missing? The Gambia Football Association spent four thousand euros to transport these materials from Germany to Congo. Also in Canada, we have to improvise after spending two thousand five hundred euros to transport the equipment from Germany to Canada. We laundered our jerseys match-after-match, and where on earth do you see National teams playing in such major competition washing their jerseys when others are exchanging jerseys on the pitch in the name of fair play?”