LAMIN KABA BAJO GAMBIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MANIFESTO PROFILE OF LAMIN KABA BAJO Lamin Kaba Bajo is a seasoned diplomat and politician who has served The Gambia with distinction in several ministerial and diplomatic missions. Lamin Kaba Bajo attended Muslim High School and the University of Leicester, UK where he graduated with a Master’s Degree in Diplomatic Studies. He joined the Gendarmerie in 1984 and rose up to the rank of a Captain and Commander of the then Presidential Guards Corps. He has served in various positions within the Armed Forces before being appointed as the Minister of Interior and Member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council. He has also served as the Minister for Local Government and Lands, Religious Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly and Minister of Interior. He served in 1997 as the Secretary of State (Minister) for Youth and Sports and also chaired the Zone 11 Sports Minister’s Bureau in 1997/98. Lamin Kaba Bajo is a seasoned diplomat who has served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with Concurrent Accreditation to the Republics of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, Iran, State of Kuwait, Sultanate of Oman, Kingdoms of Bahrain and Jordan, Ambassador to The Islamic Republic of Iran, Ambassador to the State of Qatar, - Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco with concurrent Accreditation to Tunisia and Cyprus. As a result of his hard work and dedication to duty he has been awarded by the Gambian Armed Forces, the General Service Medal, the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and the Distinguished Service Medal. He is awarded with the Great AL NOOT Award (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya), and the insignia of the Officer of the Republic of The Gambia (ORG). Lamin Kaba Bajo is one of the founding members of New Town United Nawetaan team in Brikama in1988 that has competed in the 3rd Division qualifiers but did not succeed in qualifying. New Town United were the champions of the 2013 Brikama Nawetaan. He was also a member of the then Justice Football team in Brikama which is now transformed to a social club. In 2012, as The Gambia’s Ambassador in Morocco, he initiated the camping of the Female Scorpions with no cost to Government or GFF (GFA) before travelling to the world cup in Azerbaijan. Currently he is the President of KGI Football Club which is competing in the GFF second division league. Lamin Kaba Bajo will bring to the job huge experience of distinguished professional service as a diplomat to the service of Gambian football. VISION “To develop and promote a healthy football community in The Gambia, stabilize and improve the financial and administrative infrastructure of Gambian football and ensure better cooperation between the GFF and football stakeholders, the Gambia Government, CAF and FIFA” MISSION To unite, stabilize and sustain an upward trend in football development with key focus on qualifying Gambia for CAN and FIFA World Cup. 1. KEY ISSUES AFFECTING GAMBIAN FOOTBALL i. Weak relationship with key stakeholders; ii. Poor governance and weak management of football iii. Inadequate funding and sponsorship iv. Lack of proper football structure v. Lack of structured programmes to promote grass root football vi. Inadequate capacity of technicians vii. Poor and inadequate infrastructure WAYS FORWARD TO ADDRESS THE KEY ISSUES AFFECTING GAMBIAN FOOTBALL UNDER LAMIN KABA BAJO 1. To build a better relationship, trust and confidence with all stakeholders i. Football Family ii. The Government iii. CAF and FIFA iv. Clubs and Allied Associations v. Business Community 2. FOOTBALL CALENDAR To establish a synchronised Football Calendar that would permanently determine the beginning and closing of the football season. A well structured calendar would enable the GFF, Clubs and Nawetaan centers to fit their programs and activities within the calendar. At the moment, the lack of a calendar hampers the administrative, technical and all aspects of football organization. 3. TRAINING OF TECHNICIANS To train a good number of technicians from 2015 - 2020i.e. coaches, referees, administrators and medical personnel to enable us meet the challenges ahead. Technicians definitely require high level training both in the country and abroad. Enhancing the capacity of the technicians will be a priority for the GFF as key factor in grass root development of football. 4. GRASSROOT FOOTBALL We will encourage, advocate and implement for more grass root football which will improve better competition, a better and expanded player pool for selection that will definitely increase and create better results. A. In collaboration with MOYS, MOBSE and the Schools Football Association, a national school football programme (Boys and Girls) i.e. Lower Basic, Upper Basic and Senior Secondary Schools will be implemented in all the 7 Regions; B. Youth football will be introduced to ensure and assist divisional clubs to have youth teams that will serve as a feeder to their senior teams; C. Academies -All the academies will be required to register with the GFF and be regulated; D. To scout young players (Europe, America, Africa etc) to add to the quality players pool of the country. Such a well-structured youth football will immensely contribute to the nurturing of young players to pass through well-structured stages of development before reaching the 1st division. It will also address the football age problem and increase the quality pool of players for the national teams. 5. WOMEN’S FOOTBALL We would promote, support and assist the development of women’s football with key focus on overcoming the social and cultural impediments that hinder the development of Women’s football and participation and also ensure women occupy administrative and technical positions of all aspects of football. 6. PLAYERS ASSOCIATION We will ensure and assist in the establishment of the Players Association as enshrined in the Gambia Football Federation Constitution. 7. LEAGUE FOOTBALL i. REGIONALLEAGUE To ensure a functional, proper and sustainable Regional League in all the 7 Regions by 2016/17; ii. To ensure a very organize and competitive 1st division and 2nd division league (Male and Female). 8. SPONSORSHIP To ensure all programmes of the GFF are sponsored by making our football attractive and marketable. 9. INFRASTRUCTURE We would endeavour to develop a standard field in each of the Regions at once for a level playing field and equality. I. In collaboration with MOYS and GNOC to develop 2 football grounds during the period II. To transform the Technical Training Centre to a School of Excellence for the training and camping of national teams, technicians and foreign national teams and clubs.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Sep 2014 20:41:55 +0000
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