Gambian
Sports fraternity, especially the Olympic Family, is bracing up for the 2016
Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) elective Congress on Saturday, 5
November 2016.
This
very important gathering will see the election of a new Bureau to oversee the
affairs of the Olympic Committee for the next four years.
Five
days before the deadline of submission of nominations (October 7th)
consultations and secret campaigns are gathering momentum with the names of
three candidates emerging for the position of President.
The
current Executive Committee, who are under heavy pressure for failing to leave
up to expectations, are planning to drop outgoing
The
current President Alhagie Momodou Dibba might not run for the upcoming
elections. But there are prospective candidates such as President of Gambia
Athletics Association (GAA) Dodou Capi Joof, and Police Commissioner Lamin King
Kolley.
And
the third and most qualified candidate for the position of GNOC president among
them is business tycoon and President of Gambia Boxing Association, Pa Alieu
Jallow.
Proprietor
and Managing Director of Uncle Sam Security Company, Mr Jallow graduated from
Saint Augustine’s High School in 1987 from sixth form and picked up his first
job at the Customs and Exercise department.
He
later attended Efeh University in Nigeria from 1993 to 1994 and continued his
education in the United States of America (USA) from 1994-1997 and graduated
with BSc Honours in Economics.
After
returning to The Gambia in 1997, Mr Jallow decided to put into practice what he had learned in USA
by setting up Uncle Sam Security
Company, one of the most reliable and successful local Security Companies in
the country, coupled with some other
lineups of businesses.
For
his love and support to the development of Gambian sport, Mr Jallow was called
upon in 2010 to save the embattled Boxing Association after its former
President absconded in Europe.
His
stay at the helm of the affairs at the Gambia Boxing Association has brought
sanity and stability with the sport of boxing regaining gradually its position
among top sports in The Gambia.
Mr
Jallow, who has a great ability of unification, if elected on November 05th,
will first focus on unifying Sports Associations in The Gambia that remain
divided since the departure of Alhagie Abu Dandeh Njie in 2009.
By
doing so he would work with all Sports Associations to eliminate the different
interest groups and resolve all conflicts within GNOC membership.
Mr
Jallow as President of GNOC will place targets, measure achievements and
incorporate matrix to show achievements in a four- or five-year period as well
as to find out if the targets are achievable.
With
the coming in of Mr Jallow, every association will have its fair share of funds
acquired from Olympic Solidarity.
His
administration intends to set up a committee of high degree personalities and
experts that will oversee and make sure associations’ demands and requests are
respected and fulfilled.
Scholarships
from Olympic Solidarity will be distributed equally for all Sports Associations
and by the way eliminating favoritism and nepotism in our sport.
Mr
Jallow’s administration intends to work hand and gloves with the Ministry of
Youth and Sports and other stakeholders in their strive for sports excellence.
He
will obey the dictates of GNOC Constitution by allocating a seat to the
Ministry of Youth and Sports on GNOC Bureau.
All
the administrative tools such as the GNOC Operational Manual that spell out
functions, duties, responsibilities and benefits of Sports Associations and the
staff will be applied to the letter and made available for everybody for accountability
purposes.
As
directed by OLYMPIC AGENDA 2020, all allowances and benefits received by GNOC
bureau members will be made public as IOC President Thomas Bach and other
members of the IOC Board have their monthly and seating allowances made public.
In
the interest of sports and the Olympic Movement in The Gambia, the best
gentleman to be elected as President of GNOC is no doubt PA ALIEU JALLOW.
