With the world football governing body, FIFA, already pumping USD250, 000 or more (over D10M) into the coffers of The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) annually, aside from The Gambia Government’s massive financial support, Observer Sports has been sounding the opinion of stakeholders as to what next for Gambian football, considering the string of poor results in recent years.![FEATURE]()
There seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel for the country’s football, something that many have attributed to poor administration and inadequate technical backup for the national teams. While others have stated no other option than proposing Gambia’s temporary withdrawal from international competitions, some have opined that young professionals and local-based players need to be given much attention.
The 2-1 away loss to Mauritania in Nouakchott and the goalless draw in Banjul on Tuesday at the Independence Stadium in Bakau signaled the need for the GFF to put its house in order.
The annual subvention from FIFA, dubbed Financial Assistance Programme (FAP), was established by FIFA in 1999 and is designed to motivate and empower the associations and confederations to organise development programmes that meet their needs and strengthen football and its administration in the long term, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, youth football and technical development.
The President of FIFA, Gianno Infantino, in a dramatic move had also promised during the FIFA pre-election campaign to increase the FAP amount to over US$1, 250, 000 per annum for each member association.
The amount is subject to approval during this year’s congress in Mexico and if it turns out to be the case, the GFF will receive a total of US$5M in four years.
Speaking to Observer Sports, Alhaji Momodou Njie, alias Biri Biri, Gambia’s greatest footballer of all times, opined that there is the need to reorganise and have people who know the game involved and engaged in matters relating to the game. “We have to reorganise and involve ex players. We should also focus much attention on the young professionals and the local-based players and we should understand that building a team is not about two or three parties,” Biri Biri told this paper, citing Mauritania as an example.
Biri, who feels being sidelined by football authorities, believes there is much to be done as far as moving football is concerned.
Adama Halla Samba is a former executive member of the then Seedy MB Kinteh-led GFA, now GFF. He suggested that the country should do away with international football for two years as was the case with Mauritania in order to be better reorganised for competitions .
“We need to dismantle all the national teams and start afresh, and in the next two years we can come back better and stronger for competitions. Just look at Mauritania who have returned strong after two years of absence.”
The administration and management of football, he added, should be handled by those that know and have the interest of the game at heart.
The Executive Director of the National Sports Council, Marcel Mendy, said although the idea of Gambia’s withdrawal from all international competitions may be ideal, the Sports Council cannot just conclude on the matter as at now.
“Like we have always been doing, we have to sit back, look at what we have, and what the constraints are because we need to understand the problem and what is responsible for the problem, with a view to finding ways of solving it. But eventually if the only way forward is withdrawing from all competitions, we will consider that but for now it is not yet concluded [whether] the best option or the only solution is withdrawing.”
On the huge amount of subvention from FIFA to GFF and whether it is being put to good use, Mendy said he was aware that the amount had been increased. “I may not be too sure to say it is being utilised but hopefully in the distant future anyone at the Sports Council would be able to tell you whether it is being utilised or not, because we are currently working on the National Sports Act and we are looking forward to having it enacted. Part of the provision of that Act is that National Sports Associations will present their financial statements to the National Sports Council,” Mendy told Observer Sports.
Also sharing his thoughts with Observer Sports, GFF boss Lamin Kaba Bajo said: “The opinions of people for us to take a break are not far from our position, but it happens that we already registered for qualifiers and we have to see it through and also use it as part of the rebuilding process.”
The GFF boss hinted that it is possible that by the end of the qualifiers this year, the country would possibly take a break to better reorganise itself.
On the significance of the FAP money to the development of Gambian football; Bajo said the increment on the FAP was yet to be effected (at the time of the interview), but that if affected, it could make a big impact for a country like The Gambia that depends largely on the FIFA subvention.
“This increment if effected will also relieve pressure on government, which contributed a lot, and we appreciate it.”
by Alieu Ceesay