Handbook on Milestones of Gambian Football authored by George Gomez was officially launched at the Paradise Suites Hotel on 23 November 2012.
The launching ceremony attracted huge numbers of people from various sporting disciplines of the country.
In his welcoming remarks on the occasion, Alh. Omar Sey, Vice Chairman of the Gambia Football Association (GFA) Normalization committee, commended Mr Gomez for the initiative, saying “it could not have come from a better person than Gomez himself”.
Mr Sey further revealed that the author was one of the leading football players during his time in the past.
He said there was need to make documentaries of Gambia football just the way Mr Gomez has done.
Mr Sey urged all sports associations to make documentaries on various sports disciplines, while thanking all those who contributed to the development of Gambian football.
Youth and Sports Minister Alieu K. Jammeh, on behalf of the Government, thanked Mr Gomez and those who contributed to the broadening of the game of football in The Gambia, saying the government under the head of state is aware of the significant roles sport, especially football, is playing in the development of the nation.
He however revealed that sport is the “best and quickest way to nation development”.
In reviewing the book, the chairman of the Cycling Association, Alh. Bakary A.M. Touray, elaborated on the first international football game played far back in The Gambia in decades.
The first Nawettan tournament played in The Gambia was held both on the Serrekunda School and Latrikunda Mosque grounds.
The book also contains a number of years when league competitions were not played in The Gambia and the year which the Gambia Football Association GFA was established and accepted as a member of FIFA.
Likewise The Gambia’s first official match held at the national stadium against Guinea Bissau won by Guinea Bissau and others were also catalogued in the book.
Speakers on the occasion included Mamudou Max Jallow, executive secretary of the National Sports Council.
