“I am very much happy with the kids,” he said, adding: “They are really trying very well. They surprised me by doing anything I told them to do.”
“I hope before six weeks’ time Gambians will be surprised by their progress,” he went on, saying they initially piloted the academy at Bakau New Town Lower Basic School before resuming it at the golf course.
Seeing the first week of training on television would encourage more Gambians to join the academy, JJ, as he is widely called, stated, saying the Gambia Golf Association (GGA) is ready to decentralize golf throughout the country.
There are plans to be training twice weekly in the near future, he disclosed, saying this will help the kids to grow, understand the basic rules and regulations of the game better.
“You need to know the rules before you can play the game,” Pa Jatta said further.
The GGA Golf Academy coach disagreed with people that golf is a rich man’s sport, saying it is equally for both the rich and the poor - like any other sport.
Golf is a sport that can even be played by someone at the age of 70 to 80 years, the experience professional golfer said, pointing out that golf is improving in the country.
He took time to thank the Fajara Club for the suitable environment accorded them as well as for supporting the initiation of the GGA academy.
He also thanked the GGA executive and members, sports journalists for their work and support to promote the sport in the country.
He as well thanked the President of the Republic of The Gambia for his support to them and for also accepting to be the Chief Patron of golf.
Praises and thanks also went to former President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara and wife Lady Njameh Jawara for making all efforts to see golf develop in the country; stakeholders and partners for their support and as well called on them to continue supporting the GGA (the governing body of golf in the country) to go from strength to strength.
He called on Gambians to come on board to support the GGA in order to decentralize golf in the country, saying: “The academy is free and we would like to have as many kids as possible.”
Nabil Njie, a student of the academy, said he has learnt a lot of things in golf.
The promising young golfer thanked the GGA for initiating the academy and urged them to continue supporting them.
He as well urged his fellow students to take up the training seriously.
Isatou Dibba, a female student of the academy, said she came to like the sport with the GGA pilot the Net for Schools programme at Bakau New Town Lower Basic School.
It is easy for her to play the sport because she is receiving support from her brother who is a golfer, she added, while thanking the GGA for the initiative.
Alasan E. Jallow, also a student of the academy, said he has been learning well and coping with training.
