As
part of its strategic development plan to equip member associations with the
required knowledge, The Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) through The
Gambia Basketball Association (GBA), has awarded an Olympic Solidarity
Scholarship to Mr Jerome Joseph Samuel, head coach of Serekunda East Basketball
team, to attend a three-month International Coaching Course (ICC) at the
University of Physical Education in Budapest, Hungary.
Coach Jerome Samuel, one of the youngest and most promising basketball coach in the country, is expected to leave Banjul over the weekend for Hungary via Nigeria.
Speaking at the official presentation of the scholarship document and air ticket at the Olympic House on Wednesday, the President of GNOC, Alhagie Momodou Dibba, said capacity building is a top priority for the current GNOC management development strategy.
He told Coach Jerome J. Samuel to always remember that he is going to Hungary to upgrade himself and increase his professionalism in the game.
“Go there, concentrate on your course and come with flying colours because basketball will need you more than before,” he advised the coach.
Continuing his words of wisdom, the GNOC boss hailed the current executive committee of Gambia Basketball Association for their great sense of development undertaken since they were handed the mantle of leadership of basketball in the country.
Both GNOC development officers Momodou Demba and Mary P. Decker, who are graduates of the same university in Hungary, advised Coach Jerome J. Samuel to be focused and be participatory in all group work, which is a key component of the course.
Mr Demba revealed that Coach Jerome Samuel will be the fourth Gambian basketball coach to have attended the Hungary University.
The previous ones were Mary P. Decker, Binet Marong and Lamin Fatty.
For his part, the Secretary General of Gambia Basketball Association (GBA), Abdoulie Jallow, paid gratitude to GNOC for their support to basketball.
He told coach Jerome Samuel that they are looking forward to his return to help in synergizing and in fostering the development of basketball.
“As an Association we feel that coaching and refereeing are the most important components for any Sports to make headway,” the GBA secretary general said.
In receiving the scholarship documents, Coach Samuel thanked GNOC and GBA for giving him the opportunity to develop himself and by extension contribute in the development of basketball in the country.
He has promised to live up to expectations.
Coach Samuel is expected back home on 4 December 2015.
