Government recognises sports in national development - NSC Executive Secretary

The Executive Secretary of the National Sports Council Besenty Gomez has said that the government of The Gambia has recognised the importance of youth and sports in national development. Besenty Gomez said this recently at a one-day youth forum, organised by the Brufut Youth and Sports Development Committee, at Elephant House Lodge in Brufut.

He said youths are the bedrock of national development, adding that The Gambia has been blessed with a youthful population, making them "the engine of socio-economic development."

Besenty pointed out that the role of youth and sports towards national development is varied.  "We don't have to go far to get answer to this as we have seen the U-17 footballers becoming millionaires overnight in 2009, when they won the African U-17 championship in Algeria."

According to him, The Gambia's foreign-based players in America, Europe and Africa are leading the socio-economic development of the country through their sporting exploits.

He challenged young people to engage in sports, as according to him, it creates wealth, employment national unity and peace-building, among others.

Gomez finally called on the youths of Brufut and other parts of the country to change their approach and attitude towards sports, and remember that whatever they do, wherever they do it, they are doing it for The Gambia.