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Clubs Must Legally Register - GFA

Jul 27, 2009, 10:22 AM | Article By: Sainabou Kujabi

The president of the Gambia Football Association, Seedy MB Kinteh, has called on club administrators to legally register their clubs, hold Annual General Meetings (AGM), Congress, and submit annual audited accounts and financial reports to the Gambia Football Association by 2010 and beyond.

This move is part of efforts to standardise the national league to a professional one.

In a statement read on his behalf by Omar Ceesay, 2nd Vice President of the FA, during the closing ceremony of a six-day club management course for first division club on Saturday at the Paradise Suites Hotel. The GFA boss also urged clubs to promote the development of young players (U-I 5) Academies by 2011, and to maintain the local identity of the clubs and to help strengthen the national teams.

"The league clubs are the heart of football and I am optimistic that football in The Gambia is on the rise and you deserve high praise for the outstanding performances of our national teams, and the closely contested league competitions in the past three years are substantial and tangible proof of our collective efforts as a footballing nation," he stated.

He commended FIFA for their continued support to the Gambia Football Association and the course Director Mr. Jacques Malie and Mr. Neil Armstrong-Mortagbe for their courageous leadership, determination and desire to move the game forward.

Beatrice Allen, Vice President of the Gambia National Olympic Committee deputizing for GNOC president Major General Lang Tombong Tamba in declaring the course closed, stated that the career-enhancing course for Presidents and Secretaries General of affiliated elite clubs is ample evidence of the relevance The GFA Executive Committee attaches to its membership.

"I therefore thank President Seedy Kinteh and The Executive Committee of The GFA for outlining football education as a cardinal principle in producing qualified enlightened and efficient football administrators for the good of our game and country."

She expressed without doubt that the course will give participants the requisite knowledge to run clubs as commercial entities in tune with international norms thus dispelling the age-old vision of football as a fun game.

Jacques Malie,   course director of the six day event said the course is part of  better equipping  football especially in Africa in line with professional football which will help countries like The Gambia to adjust to that level.

Victoria Roberts, a participant, delivered the vote of thanks. Participants were also decorated with certificates during the closing ceremony.