The secretary of state for Youth and Sports, Sheriff Gomez, yesterday presided over the launch of a new board of directors of the Independence Stadium & Friendship Hotel in Bakau.

The six-member board of directors, which is headed by Mr Kebba Njie,  chief executive office of GIPFZA, also has as members, Mr Badou Jassey, chairman of the Gambia referee committee, Alieu Cham, executive secretary of the National Sports Council, permanent secretaries at the department of state for youth and sports and department of state for finance and Mr Musa Njie, general manager, of the Independence Stadium.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, secretary of state Gomez said, his department of state has a clear vision for youth and sports development, urging all and sundry to work together for the accomplishment of this vision.

In the area of sports, he said, “we want to design a clear vision. And  that is to have our sporting men and women effectively participating in competitions nationally and internationally with their colleagues and doing very very best. This is the vision that we want to inspire, not just as a team in terms of the department of state and it’s satellite institutions, but also the associates.”

SoS Gomez stated that Independence Stadium is a one-stop-shop for youth and sports development infrastructure.  “It’s a one stop shop in which you have all the sporting discipline. And that means a lot to the government and it’s a huge investment,” he said.

He added that there is a critical need for the Independence Stadium to work towards independence as its name implies, noting that he is happy that the past board, which was headed by Batch Faye, did their utmost towards that direction of independence in terms of sustainability, finance and resources.

He tasked the new board to work tirelessly in crafting a strategy towards sustainability, financial and resource independence to ensure that young people and the sporting fraternity who come to use the edifice to develop their skills and talents towards delivering the vision.

Kebba Njie, the new board chairman, said his team is coming to inherit the good work started by the previous board. He said that with diligence and commitment, his team will also make its mark.

Mr Musa Njie, general manager of the country’s main stadium, hailed the youth and sports department for the immense support it has always given to the Independence Stadium management. He also thanked the out-going board board of directors for a job well done.

Th inauguration ceremony, which was attended by the members of the out-going and in-coming board was chaired by Mr Mambajicky Njie, permanent secretary, department of state for Youth and Sports.