Handball Association treasurer fired

The Treasurer of the Gambia Handball Association, Bai Abdoulie Cham has been fired, according to reliable source close to the association.

Cham's dismissal sources revealed came as a result of a complaint letter addressed to the International Handball Federation by the Treasurer sometime ago.

His actions our source stated did not go down well with the Gambia Handball Association's President who decided to unconstitutionally dismiss the Treasurer from the Executive on 6th August 2010. This prompted the International Handball Federation to suspend the transfer of funds, geared towards sponsoring the Handball U-20 team’s trip to participate in the U-20 female challenge tournament currently in session in Bamako.

However, further revelation indicated that the transfer of the said funds has been affected, thanks to the intervention of the National Sports Council and the Gambia National Olympic Committee.

But the belated transfer of the funds led to the delay of the Mali trip.

It is also understood that only 14 players from the association, as well as a number of officials are eligible to show up at this international handball festival in Mali.

In 2005, the IHF sent a development aid package to the association, meant to develop the programmes and the activities of the GHA worth around five thousand Euros.

This package, our source added, was received on behalf of the association by the former Secretary-General of the association. It is alleged that these equipment and materials are yet to be seen, and thus led to the slow pace of the growth of handball in the country.

Investigations are at an advanced stage regarding the matter Pointsport understands.

According to the source, the balance of funds transferred by IHF to cover the Gambia Handball Association's trip to Mali in 2009, by the men's team which was in possession of the National Sports Council was released to the Gambia Handball Association.

This eventually paved the way for the participation of the national female team to the tournament in Mali.

The infighting between some key members of the association regarding the concealment of some vital information has since caused a huge controversy among the handball association, which led Cham to forward the matter to the IHF.