The National Inter-departmental Sports Association (NISA), a body comprising major establishments in the country,is gearing up for a three-day sub-regional multi-disciplinary sports competition to be held in Dakar, Senegal, from 25 to 27 October 2013.
Speaking to The Point, Sulayman Badgie (Uncle Saul), Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the association, said NISA is invited by their Senegalese counterpart who are organising the competition.
“This all came about as a result of NISA’s executive’s tireless efforts in promoting the agenda and mission of the association, which is now getting known internationally,” he said.
According to him, preparations are in high gear, adding that they have written to about 32 working departments and companies. “We are now waiting for their response and on the 10th of October is the deadline. There is a target, so it is going to be ‘first come first serve.”
According to PRO Badgie, the competition is very important to NISA, in the sense that in the past it was only The Gambia and Senegal but now Mali, Nigeria, and Guinea are also coming onboard.
“There will be competition in three different sporting disciplines - swimming, athletics and fencing,” he said.
As to how financially strong is NISA to participate in the competition, he said NISA is very weak when it comes to finance, thus calling for support from the general public.
“We are demanding D5,000 from each participant that will cover transport, feeding and accommodation among other minor expenses during the stay. We are making it affordable for those wishing to take part,” he said.
PRO Badgie said the competition will also enhance sub-regional integration through sports.
He finally expressed hope that institutions, departments, and companies will respond positively.
In another development, NISA is organising a day female volleyball tournament on Saturday, 28 September at the Churchill’s Town Fire Service ground.
Among the departments and institutions to take part, according to the association’s PRO, are Gamtel/Gamcel, Gambia Armed Forces, Gambia Fire and Rescue Services, Gambia Police Force, Gambia Prison Service, National Drug Enforcement Agency, University of The Gambia, Gambia Civil Aviation Authority, and Gambia Radio and Television Services.
He also said NISA has been organising the tournament in the past years successfully, although excluding volleyball, thus describing the tournament as very important for the executive of NISA.
