The
Gambia Football Federation has reacted strongly to the ‘misleading article
published by the Daily Observer Newspaper on Tuesday 3 January 2017, captioned:
Football Stakeholders Frown at GFF’s Financial Mismanagement.
The
report, based on The Gambia Football Federation’s Annual General Meeting held
on Saturday 31 December 2016 at the Friendship Hostel, had “intentionally and
erroneously” painted the GFF’s audited reports as misappropriate or unrealistic
claiming thus from the delegates.
Whilst
quoting from only one delegate, in the person of Mr Lamin King Kolley, the
erstwhile Chairman of the National Sports Council, out of the nearly Sixty (60)
delegates who attended the said AGM.
Then
where is the principle of balanced reporting?
“In
light of this subjective reporting, the GFF hereby clarifies that the audited
reports presented by the Federation and authenticated by our competent auditors
approved by FIFA, Augustus Prom, have been thoroughly analyzed before giving it
a clean bill of health.”
The
same article also reported that the GFF’s Staff salary budget had been
increased from D3.5 million in 2014 to D5 million for the year 2015, quoting
Lamin King Kolley the ex-Chairman of the National Sports Council, who alleged
that there was only a staff increment of two personnel.
The
GFF would like to state, without any ambiguity, that the number of personnel
had in fact increased by six and King is aware of that.
“We
would further wish to clarify that there was no blanket salary increment and
that four of these staff are National Team Coaches who were appointed with the
approval of the National Sports Council when the same Lamin King Kolley was its
chairman, and had committed to pay the monthly salary of the coaches.”
Since
their appointment in the first quarter of 2015, the coaches have not received a
single month’s salary from the Council and as a result the Federation continues
to pay their salaries up to date. Thus their salary commitment led to the high
increment on our payroll.
The
GFF wishes to state that not at any point during the discussions of the
Financial Report did any issue of “FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT” was discovered or
discussed as the public is made to believe by the said article.
On
the matter regarding the solitary call on the GFF president to apologize to
stakeholders or resign on his statements relative to the Scorpions’ inability
to qualify for the 2017 AFCON finals, it should be noted that the president’s
statement on this development has been distorted and thus sent a negative
picture to the stakeholders.
In
fact the GFF has since clarified the President’s statement on the matter, thus
it had no relevance in discussions of the day.
The
GFF further wishes to register its disappointment that there were many positive
outcomes from the AGM but these were never captured in the reportage.
These
include, but not limited to, the introduction of a medical contribution scheme
for the staff for the first time ever, the regular payment of Staff Social
Security contributions, Educational/Training opportunities that the staff is
enjoying, and the Federation’s success in turning losses into profit. An
example is that when the current team under the leadership of Lamin Kabba Bajo
took over office in October 2014, it inherited a debt portfolio of D7.7million
and in less than two years it was able to repay of this debt in its entirety.
Finally,
the GFF wishes to thank everyone who in one way or the other contributed to the
success of the AGM. “We value your constructive/objective criticisms,
contributions and recommendations,” its statement said.
“We
would like to reassure all stakeholders and the general football family of our
continued commitment to the development of the game in the country within our
means and ability.”
Source:
Gff.gm
