Reports reaching Pointsport desk have it that Gambian athletes are expected to commence preparations for the London Olympics Games in December, as the date fixed for the start of the global showdown draws nearer.
Alhagie Dodou Capi Joof, secretary general of the Gambia Athletics Association, who is expected to know his fate when the delegates go to the polls to vote a new president that will steer the affairs of the GAA for another term in office, said: “Currently the GAA is in a transitional period as the association prepares for the Olympic Games in the United Kingdom.”
Capi, who has spelled out his intention to abdicate his SG position in favour of the GAA top post (the presidency), added: “The national athletes are going to train separately - from service men and women. There will be what is called inter-service training that will be sponsored by the President of the
According to Dodou Joof, who is widely tipped as the firm favourite to occupy the GAA hot seat which has been vacant since the resignation of former president Mr Evans, the service men and women are now allowed to participate in the Olympic Games.
The Gambia Athletes Association has in recent times recorded significant successes in the international athletics championships having participated in three major events at the international stage including the Commonwealth Youth Games and the All-African Games and have since registered some achievements.
The association is no doubt blessed with a good number of prospective athletes and one such example of a fantastic talent is Suwaibou Sanneh, who has made a mark in the country’s athletics landscape, especially his record breaking moments in Italy that have seen the young athlete sensation qualify for the London Olympics Games in style.
The 21-year-old sprinter was able to break the Gambian national record in the 100m at the World Youth Games with a time of 10.25 seconds, which also earned him a spot in next year’s Olympics Games.
If Sanneh’s fantastic run of fine form couple with the impressive performances of few other great talents are anything to go by, then the Gambian athletes could be one of the title contenders when the big event takes centre stage next year.
