Football Gambia, a UK-based charitable organisation, recently distributed quality football equipment to various institutions, schools and villages across the country, in an effort at contributing to the development of sport in The Gambia, particularly football.
The distribution ceremony, held at Football Gambia’s office in Lamin, witnessed the presentation of footballs, bips, jerseys, goalkeeper gloves and other football materials to Rush Football Academy of Bakau, Jambur Sinchu Youth Committee, Pirang Talibeh United of Pirang, Sitanunku Youth Academy, Two Footballs for Kiang Jiffarong, Kombo Kerewan Upper Basic School of Lamin, and Universal Football Academy of Lamin.
The inspirational figure behind the initiative is Yahya Manneh, country director of Football Gambia, who described the gesture as a way of improving the livelihood of the Gambian people as well as to meaningfully contribute towards football development in The Gambia.
The beneficiaries included Rush Football Academy of Bakau (who received 5 footballs and 1 set of bibs), Jambur Sinchu Youth Committee (2 match balls), Pirang Talibeh Kunda United of Pirang (a set of jersey and 2 match balls), Sitanunku Youth Academy (11 cartons of football materials), Busumbala Football Committee (2 goalpost nets), Kiang Jiffarong Village (2 match balls), Kombo Kerewan Upper Basic School of Lamin ( 2 sets of balls), and Universal Football Academy of Lamin (3 match balls, 5 goalkeeper umbro gloves, 1 umbro tactic board, a set of markers, 8 pairs of Singuards, 3 training ladders, 4 pairs of match boots, and 32 pairs of Umbro socks).
The latest to receive its package is the Universal Football Academy of Lamin Sanchaba, whose leader, Yusupha Sanyang, was very much delighted about the gesture and promised to make the best use of the materials as “it will complement the efforts of the kids who love playing football.
The country director of FG, Yahya Manneh, has assured the beneficiaries of his determination to distribute materials to needy institutions that come first.
“We still have lots of pending requests for support but our store is presently empty and we will be expecting shipment for distribution by the end of the year,” he said. “Distribution of materials presently are from the store of the twin partner of FG and that is KGH Sports Football Academy of Lamin.”
Manneh added: “I am now taking the risk of giving out the materials of the academy because there are some requests which need urgent attention and one example is Kiang Jiffarong village whose annual naweetan is interrupted due to lack of football as well as some academies.”