Following
the partnership between Gambia Football Federation (GFF) and the Ministry of
Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) signed in 2018, the GFF has since then
been engaged on regular festivals with girls from selected schools in the
Greater Banjul Area in different phases. The partnership sponsored by
recognized fuel and Gas suppliers PetroGas has earned the MoBSE visibility for
their school going girls from the Lower Basic categories to exhibit their
hidden talents with the help of the GFF.
This
week’s Regional Festivals took off in Soma (LRR) and Bansang (CRR) where
schools from the hinterland converged at the respective grounds for the
festival proceedings. Coordinated by Director of German-Gambia Women’s Football
Project Ms Monica Staab, the team began the festival on Tuesday 25th February
2020 in CRR’s central Zone Bansang with 250 girls from 10 selected schools viz:
Sara Kinteh, Dobongkunda, Agape, Daru, Sara Giddeh, Bansang, Jawo Kunda,
Sololo, Fuga and Mabali Kuta Lower Basic Schools.
Present
were Executive Committee members of the CRRFA including President Mr Numu Kunda
Kanyi who addressed the girls. “I want to first congratulate you for been
selected to take part in this festival. I also want to thank the partners
PetroGas and the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education for the collaboration
with us. GFF is known for supporting Women’s football and this is a clear
testimony that our leadership is serious with Girls participation in football.
So i encourage you all to take the festival seriously and also transfer your
skills to the rest in your schools“. Mr Kanyi also hailed Monica Staab for the
steadfastness in fulfilling GFF;s part of the MoU with the MoBSE and thanked
her for the dedication and passion for Women’s football. “The GFF is proud of
you and be assured of our support at all times“, he noted.
At
the Soma Mini Stadium in LRR, the GFF festival team converged 200 girls
selected from 8 schools in the Region. The event took off on Wednesday 26th of
February 2020 with the following schools Pakallinding, Kani Kunda, Misira, Soma
New Town, Soma Proper, Toniataba, Kaiaf and Karantaba Lower Basic Schools.
Present
was the LRRFA President Mr Ansumana Sanneh who similarly congratulated the
selected girls for their participation in the festival. “This is a very
important program for the GFF. Women’s football is one of the top most priority
areas for the GFF and this program with the MoBSE is key in our programs“.
Sanneh thanked Monica Staab for coordinating the event and also thanked the GFF
for facilitating the festival logistics.
According
to Monica Staab, both festivals have been extremely successful and all the
girls were happy to play football. “The program will continue on a weekly basis
and the Regional Coaches from LRR, WCR and CRR will train the girls together
with their teachers in their weekly sport lesson“. According to the renowned
Women’s football expert, the GFF has now implemented this Girls Grassroots
School Program in Six Regions across the country. She said the final festival
will be held in the URR slated for 17th of March 2020 in Basse.