A five-day Intermediate Coaching Course for thirty local coaches organised by the Gambia Football Coaches Association (GFCA) kicked off at the Gambia National Technical Training Centre in Yundum on Monday.
President of the Gambia Football Coaches Association (GFCA), Pa Suwareh Faye, speaking at the welcoming ceremony, said the day marked another important day in the history of the Gambian Football Coaches Association calendar.
Faye said that they were blessed to have both Lamin Sarr and Lamin Sambou, who are CAF licensed national coaches and instructors, at the course, adding that they are proud that Gambian coaches have taken the Gambia Junior National teams to a higher level and that they are behind the coaches and wish them success in the remaining games in the qualifying campaign.
Faye also pointed out that the course, which is examinable, will also be worked out professionally. He urged the participants to take the course seriously.
Coach Pa Faye finally thanked the Gambia Football Association (GFA) for their intervention.
Musa Njie, manager of the Independence Stadium and adviser to the Gambia Football Coaches Association, said the development of football and players in the country depends on the coaches and urged them not to be part-time coaches.
Njie also noted that the coaches should work with their communities to develop the grassroots players and also to make their senior coaches their mentors.
Lamin Sambou, who spoke on behalf of the instructors of the course, said they were blessed to be given the opportunity to instruct the course. He added that this will give them the opportunity to share their experience with other coaches urging them to participate fully during the course.
Abdou Aziz Tiatawo Mendy, the Development Officer of the National Sports Council, also speaking, said the Ministry of Youth and Sports' mission is to build capacities of professional sportsmen and women who can fetch glory for the country by winning laurels in national, regional and international competitions and who can create the conducive atmosphere for the continuous grooming and identification of talents nationwide.
Other speakers at the opening ceremony included Lamin King Colley, the Second Vice President of the Gambia Football Association (GFA), and Amat Cham, who chaired the opening ceremony of the course.
