Peter Evans, Gary Cartwright, Shakira Clarke and eleven Sports Leaders from Hamstead Hall Sports College in Birmingham, England on Saturday 4th December 2010 donated five sets of jerseys, thirty football, shocks, gloves, shin guards and a pump for the football through its coodinator in The Gambia. Abdou Rahman Bah to Jemus Junkung Jammeh Memorial Lower Basic School Academy and Nursery School in Abuko.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Peter Evans, the head of delegation said he works for Hamstead Hall Sports College in England where by every weekend they open the college for young men and women to play football.
He added that this was why they came up with the idea to also have an academy here in The Gambia noting that back home in England they have find that their young people if you don’t give them something constructive to do they find their own things to do which may sometimes not be good for their lives.
Mr. Evans also said that the materials donated are already benefiting the area because young people are getting the chance to play football adding that they can even join in different leagues in the Gambia to show their talents and possibly can be selected for the national side to represent the country.
He stated that he is looking forward to seeing The Gambia senior national team lifting the African Cup of Nation adding that they would be happy to see the Gambia do that so that they can say that they have also contributed their quarter.
He says the biggest thing that would be a shame is to see the donated items not be put in good use and being let to disappear.
Gary Cartwright, a coach at the college spoke about the cost involved in buying, putting together the materials and bring them to The Gambia and also expressed their readiness for more support in the near future.
Abdou Rahman Bah, their coodinator in the Gambia expressed his appreciation and thanks to the sponsors for coming to the Gambia once again.
He said it was a good initiation when he met with them in the hotel to come up with the idea of building a nursery school adding that it was from their that he came to know that they have interest in sports. He noted that this was how he convinced them to bring in football materials two years back adding that they have come to build that cordial relationship adding that it seems like they are opening a new page.
He said the donated materials will go a long way in helping them by improving the standard of their young talented players adding that two of their players from Abuko are part of the Gambia U-17 team.
He said the materials must be kept very save so that they can last long because it is not easy to get such standard materials.
