Softball, the latest game introduced by the Gambia National Softball Association, is set to establish itself in Western Region, The Gambia's most populated region.
Introduced by Bakary Touray, a softball coach who was trained by the GNSA, barely a few months ago, the Brikama Wellingara Softball Club have already attracted a group of children between the ages of 12 to 15.
The side has begun to gain momentum in the
annals of Gambian softball after a recent demonstration by the club, which
caught the eyes of Japanese coaches who
were in
As a form of morale support by its parent body, a delegation headed by the Gambia National Softball Association Beatrice Allen, Secretary- General, David Hafner and Mary Decker, alongside the Executive Secretary of the National Sports Council, Alieu Cham over the weekend visited the team at its training grounds in Brikama Kabafita.
The softball officials were entertained by an exhibition match by the club between Camara Kunda and Jallow Kunda. Camara Kunda won the match by 16runs, while Jallow Kunda finished at 10.
With a membership of 28 players: 17 boys and 11 girls, the club is lightened with a promising future of great talents with dedicated officials, such as Lamin Camara, Sainey Njie, Bakary Touray, Mustapha Williams and founder Bakary Touray.
Beatrice Allen Gambia National Softball President, 1st Vice-President of the Gambia National Olympic Committee and member of the International Olympic Committee was very impressed with the club's performance.
She tasked the coaches to mobilise more players and create as many clubs as possible within the region.
"I have seen many talents in the young Softball players and I would advise you to watch and help them specialised in different areas inorder to help when it comes to team selection in future," she explained.
She pointed out that the Technical Department of the Softball Association will work with the club to help horn players' talents.
As part of the visit, the club also benefited from balls, bats and clothing material to help facilitate the clubs and players.
The softball ball boss who is set to nationalise the game assured the club coaches that for more support the clubs need to be committed and hard working inorder to benefit more equipment from the umbrella body.
Lamin Camara, a club official assured the delegation that they are committed to promote the game across western region and will promote gender participation.
Like other disciplines, the clubs' major problem is a training ground for players.
The association, one of the International
Softball Federation's newer members, recently successfully hosted a two-day ISF
forum in
Since its establishment, the association has seen the formation of clubs from schools and local communities, such as Digest Softball Club.
