GFF chief reaffirms commitment to develop women football Africa - TopicsExpress



          

GFF chief reaffirms commitment to develop women football Africa » Gambia Monday, January 19, 2015 The president of the Gambia Football Federation (GFF), Lamin Kaba Bajo, has reaffirmed his executive’s unqualified commitment to the development and promotion of women football in the country. He was speaking Saturday morning at the National Technical Training Center (NTTC) in Old Yundum while officially opening a two-day capacity building for women football officials on technical and administrative matters. The course has drawn participants from all the seven administrative regions of The Gambia, and it is meant to reinforce and abreast participants on general administration incorporating finance, resource mobilization, communication, technical matters amongst others. “Besides, it is in fulfillment of the GFF leadership’s readiness to empower all the structures of Gambian football in order to achieve excellence in the sport.” Bajo said the latest course is part of efforts towards the realisation of those dreams, saying it falls well within the strategic development plan of the current GFF leadership. Among his top priorities, he added, is the promotion and development of women football during his campaign for the GFF presidency, noting that they are working tirelessly to ensure that the gap between women football and that of their male counterparts is bridged. “That’s the reality and in all aspects of life, we all agree that the women folk are our partners and not rivals, competitors, or back sitters.” He added that the importance of the course cannot be overemphasized. “We cannot be talking about development without capacity building and training.” While renewing his support to the Gambia Women Football Association to implement their programmes and activities, the seasoned diplomat turned football administrator, said the GFF have jointly looked at the programmes of the GWFA and have agreed with them to provide the funding and logistics and if necessary the technical and administrative support for effective and smooth implementation of their programmes. He added: “We have seen the trend world football is taking and is a huge business. Women football has already drawn the attention of the highest authority of world football, we know the importance FIFA plays in women football, which is personally driven by the FIFA President Seppt Blatter.” He, therefore, urged the participants to take the training with utmost seriousness as it is through education and training that they will move from one stage to another. He used the occasion to thank FIFA and the Gambia government under the leadership of Professor Jammeh through the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the support to GFF and football development. He finally thanked the executive members of the Women Football Association for coming this far, despite the constraints and challenges along the way, while urging them to continue guiding the association towards its development aspirations. For his part, Abdou Salam Jammeh, the assistant secretary general of the GFF who also doubles as the course coordinator said it should be everyone’s responsibility in ensuring that football, particularly the women game has graduated from locally organised to a sub-regional activity. According to him, the GFF executive is ready to take the country’s football to the promise land, calling for support to the leadership. Bakary Jammeh, an executive member of the GFF who gave the words of wisdom, said, “the future of the domestic game is at women football.” He urged the participants to give much attention to the thematic areas that will be covered during the two days in order to create the desired impact in their regions. “Women football must be popularized in this country. There must be broad awareness and please don’t be selfish- disseminate the knowledge that you will go home with.” Manlafi Barry, the first vice president of GWFA said the course is meant to build the capacity of the participants for the development of women football across the length and breadth of the country. He, therefore, urged the participants to put to practice the knowledge gained. Chorro Mbenga, the national women football coordinator at the GFF said this latest training, among many others in the past designed by the GFF Technical Department with support from FIFA/CAF, and government, are meant to advance the development of women football in the country. “This shows that football authorities have renewed their commitment in women football development which I think is in the right direction.” As a coach, an administrator and instructor, Mbenga said she believes that with the support of the participants, they can achieve their set goals as people in women football development. Also present at the opening were, Abdoulie ‘Star’ Jallow, the first vice president of the GFF, Secretary General Abass Bah and Abdou Karim Sey, president of the West Coast Region Football Association. Author: Alieu Ceesay
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 23:44:28 +0000

Trending Topics



Recently Viewed Topics




© 2015