Dodou Joof elected GNOC president

Gambia Athletics Association president Dodou ‘Capi’ Joof was on Saturday 5 November 2016 elected as president of the Gambia National Olympics Committee.

Capi, who was elected at a congress held at GNOC conference hall , will lead the bureau for the next four years.

Mr Joof secured 21 votes beating Pa Alieu Jallow and Lamin King Colley to the helm of affairs, who got 8 and 11 votes respectively.

He replaced Momodou Dibba, who prior to the elections confirmed he was not going to run for the post after serving 2 terms.

Other elected members of his executive include Beatrice Allen who was re-elected unopposed as 1st vice president; Lamin Kabba Bajo as 2nd vice president; Abdoulie MB Jallow as Secretary General and Ousman Abou Wadda, who was also re-elected unopposed as treasurer.

David Haffner, Anthony Tabbal and Bai Dodou Jallow were also elected as representatives of Olympic sport.

Mary Samba Christensen, Momodou Drammeh and Harriet Ndow were nominated as executive members in accordance with the GNOC constitution while Jonny Gomez and Adama Jammeh were also co-opted into the GNOC Board.

Alh. Momodou Dibba, outgoing GNOC president, in his remarks, expressed appreciation and thanks to his former executive, staff, national associations, NSC and MoYS for their collaboration and support.

He added that it was important that they had elected capable people.

Mr Dibba took time to recognize the efforts of Gambian athletes in the recently concluded Rio Olympics, saying: “Our Olympiads did extremely well.”

He expressed his willingness to work with the current president and his executive in ensuring that The Gambia is represented by at least 10 athletes in the 2020 Japan Olympics.

He went on to urge all to close their ranks, embrace each other with dignity and work as a family.

He finally urged all to give the new executive the support they deserve.

President elect Dodou ‘Capi’ Joof, in his statement, began by thanking delegates for their trust and confidence in electing them.

He said his election was also as a result of their belief and commitment to their addenda towards the improvement of the country’s national sports associations and their vision to have individuals and the sports team participates in the 2020 Olympic games.

He noted that it is now time for all of them to come together and work for national sports development, particularly the athletes in collaboration with government.

They will continue to work with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the NSC and other stakeholders, according to him.

“It is only through collaboration that our sports will develop and the name of our beloved country will soon be a force in the international sporting arena,” he said.

He assured all that even though the road maybe challenging they would not shift from their purpose, saying their future is uncertain, but shaping “it is definitely certain” and he was convinced they were on their way to a lot of improvements that would get them to something more rewarding for Gambian sport.

He said they will reach out to all corners of the country through member associations, adding that they have endeavoured to build the capacities of sports managers, coaches, and most importantly equip athletes.

The election was commissioned by Kwamla Manly Elliot as presiding officer assisted by Alh. Pap Saine, Life President of the Sports Journalist Association of The Gambia, and Cherno Omar Bobb, sports editor of The Point newspaper.