Henry
Gomez, Minister of Youth and Sports, has said he has no intention to dissolve
or suspend the Gambia Football Federation (GFF).
Minister
Gomez made this remark yesterday in an interview with The Point at his office,
following reports in local newspapers on whether he plans to dissolve the GFF.
The
minister, a onetime footballer, said he has no intention to dissolve GFF
because he knows there are many countries that have tried to dissolve their FAs
and had problems with FIFA, which led to their suspension.
He
added that dissolving GFF would look like he was not fair with the youth.
He
expressed his readiness to work hand in glove with everybody but was quick to
add that his challenge also would be ensuring transparency within GFF,
especially with the FIFA Goal Project in Yundum, which everybody in the country
is talking about.
He
pointed out that the GFF claimed to have rehabilitated the FIFA Goal Project to
the tune of D7 million but “today it has only a toilet, a fence, and some
windows and roofs”.
“The
GFF claims that they had invested US$500,000, which is D20 million and also
claimed that furniture cost was US$325,000,” he noted, saying all he was saying
was the truth, as he also took some photos of the site.
The
Youth and Sports Minister called for the FIFA Goal Project to be investigated
but also for the GFF to tell Gambian youth when they are going to deliver the
Goal Project to them.
“All
I need is action and results,” he stated, saying he is not out to hunt or witch
hunt anyone.
“FIFA
does not want politics or interference in football but if there is no
government there will be no Gambia Football Federation and as long as government
is contributing to football then government have the right to have a say in
it,” he highlighted, adding: “Government allocates subvention to GFF.”
He
called for transparency within the GFF.
“If
GFF wants to be a private body then let them stop government contributing to
them,” he remarked, saying as long as the Gambia government is investing in GFF
the government has the right to partake in its affairs.
He
added that he had no grudge against whosoever is in GFF and is ready to work
with everyone but let the cards be put on the table.
“I
have not been quoted talking to any media house about dissolving or suspending
Gambia Football Federation,” he clarified, saying the reports about him are all
speculations.
“All
what I wish is: we all work together,” he further said, adding that in football
FIFA calls for fair play.
“I
am not here to hunt anyone and I am not a human hunter but I raised up my hand
and swore to the nation that I am going to work for this nation and for the
youth,” Hon. Gomez said.
He
questioned “those making noise”, saying why they should when “they are
innocent”, adding that as a minister he would focus on doing his job.