Abuko
United female team on Wednesday 30 November 2016 received football materials
from two philanthropists Mr Saidou Saine and Mrs Diana Saine at a presentation
held at Gamtel training ground at Abuko.
The
materials included footballs, nets, jerseys, shocks among others.
In
his remarks Modou Jarju, head coach of Abuko United, described the day as
special for them.
He
said they usually have difficulties in raising funds for the team. He also
expressed concern about the team’s lack of football materials.
For
her part, Mariama Malack, captain of the team, described the day as
unprecedented as it was the first time the team had received such a gesture.
Saidou
Saine, co-founder of Big Smile Project, said he and his wife Mrs Diana, who he
described as backbone of the project, will work hard to send more materials,
adding that they have been thinking of sending a container full of footballs,
corns, shocks, nets and other materials to support Gambian football.
Mr
Saine, a former first division player in The Gambia, recalled how hard it was
to even get football boots despite his natural talents.
He
said this motivated him to begin doing volunteering service in the UK to be
given football materials to send to The Gambia to help young ones.
“Smile
project is all about supporting Gambians to help themselves,” he said, adding
that they were not only involved in sports, but are also into health, education
and agriculture.
Delivering
the vote of thanks on behalf of the team Yaya Dampha, assistant coach,
expressed delight about the gesture and thanked the donors while assuring them
that “the materials will be put into good use”.