Mambanyick Njie, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Youth and Sports has disclosed that the government of the Republic of The Gambia is posed to build a new national stadium worth over 66 million US Dollar.
PS Njie was speaking at the Sheraton Hotel and Resort during the cocktail party, organised by Coca-Cola and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in collaboration with the South African Consul to The Gambia, Thursday night , as part of activities marking the end of a seven-day extensive campaign on the countdown to the FIFA World Cup.
The Gambia government, he added "under the inspirational leadership of His Excellency Sheikh Prof Dr. Alhajie Yahya AJJ Jammeh is working towards the building of a new national stadium at a tune of 66 million US Dollar."
Njie therefore called on the entire Gambian populace, including the private sector to join hands with The Gambia government in a bid to make this wonderful initiative a success.
He also used the occasion to inform Gambian people about plan set aside by his Ministry for the fund-raising campaign for the senior national team's participation to the upcoming African nations and the World Cup qualifiers, which begins in September.
"As I am speaking to you, my Ministry has already started a fund-raising campaign in order to raise the needed fund for the national team's participation to the CAF 2012 and the World Cup in 2014, which requires a huge sum amounting to D32 million, so therefore it is a collective responsibility for every Gambian to make sure we contribute our quota in order to raise the required fund for their participation for the forthcoming qualifiers," he added.
The Gambian leader, according to the PS, has made it categorically clear that our national team must qualify for the Chan 2012 and the World Cup in 2014.
But he is however aware of the fact that it requires a collective effort from all and sundry since it involves a lot of money.
Also, speaking at the occasion on behalf of the Country Manager of Coca-Cola, who have been a key partner with FIFA since 1978, Ms. Princess Shyngle said the initiative which is jointly organised by her company, Honorary Consul of South Africa to The Gambia and the Ministry of Youth and Sports with the support of The Gambia government, in a bid to celebrate Africa's first World Cup the countdown is wonderful.
The Honorary Consul of South Africa to The Gambia Modou Taal, "the World Cup on African soil for the first time is a key to African integration."
