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Sports Ministry targets D32m for Scorpions qualifiers

May 12, 2010, 12:37 PM | Article By: Momodou Faal

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has targeted 32m to raise fund for the national team qualifier for the 2012African Cup of Nation, co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

This information was disclosed to this paper on Monday by the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mambanyick Njie.

He stated that the ministry which has instituted a fund-raising committee, headed by Tombong Saidy, is expected to launch it soon.

He pointed out that the national team belongs to every Gambian, adding that it is the responsibility of everyone to support the team in its qualifying drive for 2012, noting that "now is the right time when companies should come and support the Scorpions."

He said his ministry will do everything possible to support the Gambia Football Association and the coach, to organise one friendly international match for the team, prior to their September game.

He also disclosed that his ministry will focus on the national team qualifiers, noting that all the other teams namely, the U-17 and U-20 have brought glory to the nation.

The Gambia is pitted in Group F alongside Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Namibia.  In the First Week of September 2010, the Scorpions will open their 2012 campaign when they host Namibia.

He pointed out that the ministry has also supported the Stadium Management for the upgrading the main football field of the  national stadium, at a tune of about D800,000, adding that the ministry through the government has also assisted the Banjul Sports Committee with D4million for the refurbishment of KG 5, now Banjul Mini-stadium.