The Gambia National Paralympics Committee (GNPC) yesterday left
The ten-man team, accompanied by technical committee and board members, will contest in a four-team tournament that will serve as test marches to prepare the Gambia disabled sports players take part in the upcoming Zone Two Wheelchair Basketball Tournament and the All-Africa Games, scheduled for this year, as well as the World Athletics Championship that will take place in London in September 2012.
Sulayman Kolley, GNPC president, said the team would compete with three Senegalese teams on wheelchair basket ball friendly marches and athletics competitions, as part of preparations for the regional and international athletics games.
At a meeting held Tuesday evening at the GNPC office at the Kanifing Community Centre, Kolley said that so far the organisation has been able to secure transport, and team members have ventured into a sponsored work to raise funds as allowances for the team.
"The amount realised is minimal and we need more support to be able to motivate the team for the event," he said.
The Kaolack trip is an opportunity for the team to prepare for future events, he added, saying it will also prepare the team to organise wheelchair basketball and athletic championships at national level, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Mr Kolley said letters have been written to many institutions, requesting support for the trip, but responses are yet to be received. He however promised to follow up, while continuing to appeal to organisations, institutions and individuals to give a helping hand to facilitate the trip.
He advised team members to maintain discipline, be law-abiding and do their best to come out with a victory from the Kaolack tournament.
Mr Basirou Faye, head coach of the team, said his team has been busy preparing for the competition. He expressed optimism that the team will live up to expectations, "by the grace of God, the overall controller of everything".
The GNPC, the umbrella body of disability sporting disciplines, has since its establishment been promoting various disability sporting disciplines at the local level, and has been taking part in regional disability sporting activities.
