Yankuba
Marong, president of Essau Youth and Sports Development Committee, has said
Gambian football has a long way to go because grassroots football needs to be
developed.
Mr
Marong made this remarks recently during an interview with reporters at the
opening of the 2017 Toubakolong Youth and Sports Development Association held
in Upper Niumi District, North Bank Region.
He
said nawetan centers are not only centered within the Greater Banjul Area and
for that reason it is important for coaches to travel to all nawetan zones
across the country to watch and scout raw talents – young talents, and nurture
them to professional standard.
“It
is also important that the media feature local football and not focus all their
attention on international football,” he said, adding that it is important for
Gambians to know who their players are.
He
said further that it is also important the government through the Ministry of
Youth and Sports sit with stakeholders and map out a way to develop Gambian
football.
He
said his committee’s organized nawetan competition is going on smoothly even
though it is not easy organizing a tournament.
He
pointed out that as a committee they are developing yearly, and expect this
year’s tournament to be conducted peacefully as in previous years.
He
said the league winners will pocket home some D30,000 while the runners-up will
collect D25,000 of their competition partly sponsored by Trust Bank.
According
to him, their biggest achievement is, being able to yearly successfully stage
their nawetan tournaments, adding that teams have always shown sense of
maturity and understanding as “they are
very cooperative with the committee”.
Marong
also said they were also able to build a perimeter fence and “are growing
gradually as a committee”.
He
concluded by calling on stakeholders to join them in their pursuit to develop
the game within the area, as well as sponsors to fund their competitions.
