The Executive Committee of The Gambia Sports Journalist Association yesterday paid a courtesy call on Col Lang Tombong Tamba, The First Vice President of The Gambia Football Association who also doubles as Chief of Defence Staff of Gambia Armed Forces at his offices in Banjul.

Narrating their purpose of visit, Namori Trawally, President of the Sports Journalist Association said plans are underway to stage a grand award ceremony where heroic Gambian sports personalities in the last one decade would be decorated, as it is the case in the other parts of the continent. Trawally said the success of such a ceremony will surely require the support of people like Col Tamba.
According to him, the ceremony, which will be the first of it kinds, is tentatively scheduled for mid April and will be a three-day programme where the first day will gather stakeholders in Gambian sports arena to debate on the way forward for sports. He said the final day will mark a friendly football match between the government and the Business community, adding that Col Tamba’s support is very much needed in bringing the two teams together. “We need your support to ensure a successful ceremony,” Trawally said.

Pa Modou Faal, a member of the association buttressed on Trawally’s points adding that sports journalists always see themselves as partners to the football association in a bid to develop the game we all cherish.

In his reaction, Col Tamba said the proposed initiative is a move in the right direction. He assured the association of Football Association’s full support. “We are partners and that’s why whatever we do, you are not left behind,” he said.

Even the leadership of President Jammeh did not leave sports journalists behind. I fully remember slots being given to the sports journalists by President himself during the Peru trip in 2005. Again in Congo, sports journalists were taken care of and this clearly shows that even President Jammeh has interest in the association”.

Col Tamba hailed the giant role sports journalists played during the just concluded African Youth Championship tournament held in Congo, adding that developing the game requires partnership. He also advised sports journalists to be objective in their reporting, as according to him, promoting the culture of peace is a duty we deeply owe to our great nation-The Gambia.

Other speaker at the gathering included Ms Sainabou Kujabi, a member of the association.