Armed Forces get ball rolling for CAF champions league

Barely two months before their first outing in the preliminaries of the CAF Orange Champions league against JSK Kabylie of Algeria, the Gambia Armed Forces FC have begun preparation for the precious continental club showbiz.

Under the directive of Lt Gen. Masanneh Kinteh, the Chief of Defense Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces, a board, headed by Brigadier-General Saikou Seckan, was tasked with the responsibility of planning and preparing the Gambia Armed Forces FC?s participation in the most lucrative continental club competition.

The board constituting officers, soldiers, top businessmen, GFA officials, technicians and journalists, meet every week at the Defence Headquarters' Conference Hall, ahead of the enormous task.

Addressing the meeting on Monday, the Chairman of the Board, Brigadier-General Saihou Seckan reminded members that due to the urgency of the matter there is need for the board members to put all hands on deck to come up with tangible recommendation that should be submitted to the convening authority.

He added that Armed Forces FC have been paired with JSK Kabylie of Algeria with the first leg in Banjul between February 12-14, 2010 and the return leg in Algiers from February 24-26, 2010.

After fruitful deliberation on all matters, board members were divided into six different committees, namely Fund Raising/ Budgeting committee, Logistics committee, Accommodation committee, Security committee, Technical committee and Media and Publicity committee.

For a successful participation, the board recommended that the team should at least have a series of national and international test matches, prior to the commencement of the continental championship as the team is not only representing the Gambia Armed Forces but The Gambia as a nation.

Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie known as JS Kabylie or JSK is a Football (soccer) football  club based in Tizi Ouzou, Algeria. It draws its support from Kabyle football fans even outside the city of Tizi Ouzou. It was previously called JS Kaåwkabi (1974-77) and JE Tizi-Ouzou (1977-89). It is one of the richest and most successful clubs in Africa. Their current budget is approximately 2,500,000 euros. Their home stadium is Stade Stade 1er November.