Lamin
K. Colley, presidential aspirant for the Gambia National Olympic Committee
(GNOC), has highlighted some of his plans ahead of the 5th November 2016
elective congress.
Speaking
in an exclusive interview with Pointsports yesterday at his Serrekunda Police
Station Office, King Colley, as he is widely known, said he would tender his
nomination to run for the presidency today Friday 7 October 2016.
Born
on 25 May 1968, King attended Busura Primary School in Kombo Central from 1975
to 1980 and Brikama Senior Secondary school from 1981 to 1985.
He
said his reason of wanting to leave the position of chairman of the National
Sports Council (NSC) to go in for the position of GNOC president, is that he
felt the move is in the right direction for sports development in the country.
He
noted that the entire Gambian sports lovers have witnessed “the transformation
that has taken place” during his tenure at the National Sports Council as
chairman, saying he spent over D300,000 to rehabilitate and uplift the NSC
office where every staff responsible for a task had been allocated an office
with national associations that had also uplifted themselves to national standards.
He
said he believes enforcement should have been done by the NSC in collaboration
with the GNOC but that was not the case.
He
said he finds it fitting to stand for the GNOC presidency to bring about more
development of national associations.
If
elected as president of the GNOC, and there is finance for associations, he
would ensure no association under his leadership travels by land on
international engagement except to Senegal, which shares border with The
Gambia.
“Therefore
let us look at the interest of the nation and our athletes that are serving and
would have to risk their lives to travel by land from The Gambia to Liberia
with ‘geleh-geleh’ or with fourth-class bus from The Gambia to Guinea Conakry,”
he remarked.
He
also said he would complete all uncompleted structures founded by Abou Dandeh
Njie if there is funds – “and I believe there are always funds at Olympic
House”.
King
Colley, an action-oriented man, said athletes are serving the purpose of the
nation and as such should be considered and well taken care of.
He
said that in July he witnessed a handball team from The Gambia travel to Guinea
Conakry for four days by land and played their first game the very day they
arrived.
They won but the moment the Gambia national
anthem was sung everyone was in tears due to the hardship they encountered on
their way, he said, adding: “It is sad to see a national team travel by land
and being neglected by GNOC whilst just a member of the GNOC is being paid more
than D700,000 as per diem and night allowance.”
It
is for this reasons he said he would rise up to the challenge of assuming the
GNOC presidency.
“I
have no sentiments against anybody but I see The Gambia as bigger than anyone,”
he emphasised, calling on all “to respect our athletes and our country”.
“You
go to mini stadiums in Bulock, Kaur, Farafenni, Basse and other places they are
all uncompleted structures,” he noted, saying the foundations were laid by the
Olympic House during Abou Dandeh Njie’s time and “since he left the development
of our sports ended at GNOC”.
He
questioned whether Abou Dandeh Njie is the only one to bring development
projects to The Gambia.
He
urged all to forget about their personal issues and look at the interest of the
country, saying he is aspiring to be president to change the present system at
the GNOC.
“I
have a 40-foot container full of furniture and other items such as balls,
jerseys, tables and chairs and by 16 October 2016 the NSC will embark on tour
to distribute these materials for the development of sport,” he disclosed,
saying: “This is what a patriotic citizen should do and not to expect
government to do everything for us.”
He
said further: “We have our bank of sport at GNOC - if they are not doing
anything for sport why are we spearing them there?” he questioned. “Are they
the owners of Olympic House?”
Concerning
his fellow contenders, he said he has nothing against them. He added that they
may all have the same vision but their actions could defer.
He
said the moment he tenders his nomination he would have the backing of
associations, adding that he would not unveil the strength of his support until
after tendering his nomination.
“When
I unveil my nomination even those that have pledged allegiance to other camps
will retire to me,” he said.
Mr
Colley was the president of the Brikama Sports Committee from 2001 to 2011. He
was also president of the West Coast Regional Sports Committee from 2005 to
2009.
King
was team manager of the Gambia U-20 from 2007 to 2009.
He
served as second vice president of the Gambia Football Association in 2009. He
has been chairman of the National Sports Council since 2013.
He
was awarded the best local sports administrator in 2007.
He
has also undergone trainings in sports administration on Olympic Solidarity in
2005; leadership in sports coaching in Middlesex University in 2010 as well as
introduction to sports rehabilitation in Middlesex University in 2011.
He
was enlisted in the Gambia Police Force in 1990. In 2006 he was awarded with
outstanding performance, commitment and exemplary conduct of the Policeman of
the Year award.
He
has also undergone investigation and identifying stolen motor vehicles course
in 2008 in Abidjan. He also received training in human rights on law
enforcement agencies in 2016.
