According to Lamin M. Ceesay, president Gambia Deaf Sports Association (GDSA), many African countries have already confirmed their participation in the first Africa Cup of Nations for the Deaf but The Gambia who as well wants to participate in the competition is faced by financial constraints and are finding it difficult to prepare for and play in the championship.
In an e-mail sent to Pointsports, the GDSA began by taking the opportunity to commend the President and through him the Government and people of The Gambia.
Mr Ceesay went further to personally thank His Excellency for recognizing the services of the The Gambia Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (GADHOH), and as well bestowing upon them the honourable insignia of a Member of the Order of The Republic of The Gambia.
“Your Excellency, it may interest you to know that our Association National Football Team was invited to participate and play in the forthcoming first-ever Africa National Football Cup for the Deaf on October 2014,” it went on, adding: “The event will be hosted by Deaf Sports Federation of Ghana and in agreement with the General Secretariat of Confederation of Africa Deaf Sports, CADS.”
“The matches with selected countries will help to promote unity, cooperation and regional integration, giving credence to your Pan-Africanism and support of the African Union,” it further said.
Such was the great success of their various pervious international friendly soccer matches, in The Gambia, Senegal and Sierra Leone, for the purpose of continuity and peaceful co-existence, it also said.
“The National Deaf Scorpions FC is most confident of bringing glory to the Nation, as well as raising our Beloved Nation’s Flag at this first-ever event in Accra, Ghana,” it stated.
“The entire membership of your national deaf community strongly believes that it could be only you and your support that would enable us to participate and play in this crucial first-ever event,” it stated.
“Your Excellency, you have given much largesse to sport, in order that they may often take another giant stride to providing moral boosting and unique motivation towards their development,” it observed.
“It is for this reason, your Excellency, that we ask for you to accord us the honour of helping us to meet our budget and of personally handing over to us the National flag at the time of travel for the first-ever Africa Deaf Football Cup of Nations,” it added.
