An elite FIFA Referees Course is expected to take place in The Gambia from 17th to 21st October 2012 at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi.
The five-day training course for Gambian referees is sponsored by world football’s governing body, FIFA, in collaboration with the Gambia Football Association.
The course will be coordinated by FIFA Referees Development Officer, Seedy Bekai Magassa, who will be assisted by two other instructors namely, Joseph Lamptey Wellington and MaDemba Mbacke.
The three FIFA course directors will be locally assisted by Adama Mbye and Bai Jobe, who will serve as local instructors while Modou Sowe will serve as fitness instructor and Lamin Camara as local coordinator.
Twenty-six Gambian male and female referees are expected to take part in the course, during which they will be instructed on various areas of refereeing, covering both on theory and practice. The course is residential and participants at the end of the five days will receive certificates.
Kunkujang Wrestling Committee Set for Improvement
In a bid to promote wrestling in The Gambia, the Central Wrestling Committee of Kunkujang Keitaya are on their preparatory process in trying to revitalize and reform its activities by convening a series of meetings for a constructive dialogue.
The committee is a combination of three sub committees, which are the APRC wrestling committee, Rinperon Bi wrestling committee and the Balangharr United Society wrestling committee.
Speaking during a meeting, Damm Touray, the Secretary General of the committee said they started organizing wrestling competitions since 2007, and will continue to be staging such events.
Knowing the condition of wrestling in The Gambia, he said it is not easy to be organizing wrestling competitions, as it is always difficult to tap funds from sponsors. “Money is always a problem when organizing combats,” he said.
Kunkujang have over the past years been known for organizing wrestling competitions, but in the local and traditional form dubbed ‘Roofo”, which is quiet different from how it is done in neighbouring Senegal. Touray said they will continue to operate in the traditional manner of wrestling as that is what they are known for.
He added that they are just in the preparatory activities, which is why they are having meetings every Saturday to exchange ideas. Wrestling is underrated compared to other sports in the country, Touray pointed out, and appealed for publicity from the media houses in the country.
“The media is the mouthpiece of the people and we are, therefore, appealing to them to be covering our events for the benefit of the general public,” he said.
He then revealed that after their consultations, they will get back to the people as to when they are to stage their first competition of the season, but promised that it will be in the month of October 2012.
He then concluded by calling on sponsors to fund wrestling, before commending the general public for their continued support.
