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Gateway International (MGI) has donated football materials to the Ministry of
Youth and Sports (MOYS) at a ceremony held at Banjul International Airport on
Monday, July 3.
The
items, worth $30,000, included sets of jerseys, footballs, training bibs,
medical items, and other sporting materials.
The
donation came through a sponsorship agreement between MGI Zurich and Puma for
the national teams of The Gambia.
Speaking
on the occasion, Marcel Mendy, executive director of National Youth Council,
described MoYS’ relationship with MGI as cordial and mutually beneficial.
“MGI
has been very supportive to the ministry in terms of supporting sports,
especially football,” he said, adding that the relationship between the
ministry and MGI has been going on for long time.
MGI
has been helping the sports ministry in the payment of the salaries of some
national football team coaches.
“This
is a relationship that government has enjoyed a lot,” Mr Mendy said while
calling on MGI to consider paying some other national coaches, not only
football coaches.
Mendy
said the donated materials would go a long way in helping the Ministry of
Sports in its drive to revive football.
Jerreh
Ceesay, coordinator of MGI The Gambia, said MGI is always happy to support the
development of sport in The Gambia.
“I
want to assure the ministry of our continued support at all times,” he vowed,
adding that they would extend their largesse to other sporting disciplines,
apart from football.
Hon.
Henry Gomez, minister of Youth and Sports, said the donation came at the right
time, describing MGI as a fair partner when it comes to sport in The Gambia.
He
said: “We have to deliver and I believe in action and results; this type of
support is what we call action. The
youth and sport of this country need institutions and organisations like MGI.
“We
want to achieve the best for the youth when it comes to sport. Sport has no boundary, tribe or religion. Let
us give back to the youth what belongs to the youth.”
The
minister promised MGI that his “ministry will make best use of the materials”,
adding that positive changes would take place in the country’s sporting sector
“very soon”.
