Modou
Lamin Sanyang, a medical lab technician at Edward Francis Small Teaching
Hospital last Tuesday donated a racing bicycle to Yankuba Jahateh, a triathlon
athlete of The Gambia Triathlon Association.
In
presenting the bicycle to Yankuba at the Independence Stadium in Bakau, Mr.
Sanyang said as a former national athlete he feels obligated to give back. He
added that government alone cannot do it all and therefore partners should
complement its efforts.
He
highlighted the need to introduce inter-schools bicycle race in primary schools
and then to higher levels in order to develop the sport in the country. He also
urged Yankuba to make best use of the bike.
Yankuba
Jahateh said the bicycle will take him to another level in his career because
it will give him maximum training.
According
to him, his previous bicycle could not take him to certain distance due to its
condition. He called on authorities to support the sport as well as urged
triathlon athletes to continue to work hard.
DeJean
Tommy, president of Gambia Triathlon Association described the gesture as a
great thing because the association is new and triathlon requires three
disciplines - swimming, cycling and marathon.
He
pointed out that having the right equipment is essential in sport to be able to
perform well. “The donation is a great boost in many ways because it shows that
people are interested in the sport,” he noted, while encouraging athletes to
take up the sport.
He
remarked that triathlon will be performed in a safe, fair and honorable way in
The Gambia, saying they are looking to grow and take the sport throughout the
nation as they aim to change attitude of sports in the country by making sports
for all.
“We
will take Gambian sport where it should be,” he further said, adding that they
want to create a new environment for athletes to be able to perform to the best
of their abilities.
According
to him, sports should not just be coming to the tracks and performing but
leaving legacies behind.
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