Mr Sang Correa, President of the Gambia Boxing Association (GBA) has shared his ordeal on the just concluded ZANOCA games in Mali.

Speaking to Pointsport recently, Mr Correa said the problem of Gambian delegation to the championship started upon their arrival in Dakar.

He said they were all accommodated in a stadium in Dakar in an open place where mattresses were spread without any proper accommodation being provided.

According to Sang Correa, the only thing that was provided was lunch, dinner and breakfast. He said upon their arrival in Tamba Counda in the early hours on Wednesday, the Senegalese were provided with breakfast while the Gambian delegation was not catered for.

He added that Mr. Fred Evans, second Vice-president of Gambia National Olympic Committee provided 1000 CFA Francs equivalent to D52.00 to each members of the delegation.

He further stated that when they arrived in Kaye, Mali, they were lodged at a School Classroom, where they met the Gambian head of delegation Momodou Demba.

“We explained to him that we cannot stay at the school but instead we want to be taken to the Stadium where accommodation was provided to the Senegalese,” he added.

Mr. Demba told us that he cannot do anything with the situation but promised to contact Col. Raul of Mali who was responsible for accommodations.

He revealed to them that the only remaining accommodation was reserved for the Guinean team.

“Later on we were transferred to join other countries at the Stadium” he disclosed. Still elaborating on the journey to Mali, he said they spent part of their money to buy food.

“An estimated budget was finalised together with Mr. Demba and heads of other sporting disciplines based on our expenditure and they agreed that ZANOCA would refund us our money which was equivalent to 20,000 CFA Francs each but the agreement was never fulfilled,” he said.

He stated that the opening of the Football Championship between The Gambia and Mali started late because the Gambians protested that they will not play unless and until their money are refunded, which was later done by the Malians.