U-17 Countrywide Tour Ended

The hundred man (100) delegation headed by GFA supremo SeedyMB Kinteh on Friday evening returned home from a four-day nation-wide-tour with the national U-17 team.

The successful tour which was sponsored by the President of the Republic Prof. Dr. Alhajie Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, attracted quite a large number of supporters across the country who all went out in large numbers to welcome the African U-17 champions in appreciation of their gold-medal-success in Algiers.

The delegation left Banjul via Barra where we were received at the Barry Ferry Terminal by the governor of North Bank Region Edward Seckan who felt glad to introduce the delegation to the people of his area before proceeding to Badibou Kerewan where the first meeting of the tour was conducted.

During the meeting, the chairman of Kerewan Area Council, Lamin Ceesay spoke with delight about the numerous achievements registered by the U-17 team adding that this country-wide tour is a clear manifestation of the team's commitment to their national duties.

The NBD Governor and the chief of Lower Baddibu Fafanding Kinteh both echoed similar sentiments and prayed for the team in all their endeavours.

The GFA president Seedy Kinteh thanked the people of NBD for the warm welcome accorded him and his delegation, and further challenged them to encourage their children in order to be actively involved in sports and football in particular if they cannot do well in school.

The delegation left Kerewan for Farafenni where another meeting was held before moving to Kaur.

The delegation on the same day proceeded to Janjanbureh where we visited the governor of the area Alhajie Ganyie Touray before moving to Basse on Tuesday night where we proceeded to the governor's office in Mansajang Kunda.

The governor of URR Omar Khan who spoke during the meeting in Basse, said he was honored and pleased to welcome the delegation on behalf of the people of his area.

Omar Khan commended the darling U-17 team for what he referred to as a magnificient job done as according to him, the U17's achievement does not come as a surprise to him.

The GFA leader SeedyMB Kinteh assured Governor Khan of his association's support at all times.

He also seized the opportunity to introduce the U-17 team to the governor including striker Jatta Baldeh who is a native of Basse.

The delegation the following day left Basse for Brikamaba where people came out in their large numbers to express their appreciation to African heroes before the meeting was conducted.

After a short meeting in Brikamaba, the delegation headed to Kudang Military Barracks where the GFA president alongside a veteran journalist Kebba Yorro Manneh were awarded medals in appreciation of their hard-work and continuous support towards the development of sports in The Gambia.

The delegation moved to Mansakonko in LRR where another meeting took place in Pakalinding, the home village of GFA President SeedyMB Kinteh.

The LRR governor Momodou Soma Jobe used the platform to commend the U-17 team for a tremendous job done and urged them to keep up the momentum.

The Seyfo of Jarra Pakalinding, Ebrima Buwa Kinteh who also spoke during the meeting echoed similar sentiments.

After spending the night in Mansakonko,we proceeded to Tendaba in Kiang Central on Thursday before heading to Tendaba Camp where we were received by the camp manager Alhajie Sarjo Touray.

The people of Tendaba were proud of the team's visit to their village and as a result, presented a gift of a bull to the team while the lady councilor of Jarra Central, Kaddy Drammeh, also gave a goat to the baby scorpions as a token of appreciation.

The delegation on Thursday evening left Tendaba for the President Jammeh's home village of Kanilai which also gave us the opportunity to make a courtesy call to the village Alkalo who prayed for the team ahead of the world cup to be staged in Nigeria in October.

The GFA President Seedy Kinteh appealed to the Alkalo of Kanilai to allocate a plot of land where they can build a national stadium.

The delegation left Kanilai on Friday morning for Brikama in western region where the team also benefited from a gift of a ram by the dissolved regional sports council.

The U-17 team was also presentedmedals by the people of western region in appreciation of their gold medal success in Algiers.

The GFA leader commended the people of western region and Brikama in particular for their contribution in sports development in the country and thanked them for hosting the delegation.

The governor of western region Lamin Sanneh and the president of Brikama Youth and Sports Association Lamin King Colley who spoke during the meeting both thanked the U-17 team for what they described as a tremendous achievement by the darling U-17 team.

The Imam of Brikama advised the U-17 players to prevent themselves from smoking and other things that may affect their footballing career.

The delegation later moved to Kartong where we received a warm welcome by the people of the area before proceeding to Gunjur.

Brufut and Sukuta were one of the areas visited by the delegation where the tour ended before moving to join the May Day activity at the Independence Stadium in Bakau. 

The team was accompanied by a high ranking delegation including the Deputy Permanent Secretary, the Department of State for Youth and Sports Abdoulie Kah, the 2nd Vice Chairman of the National Sports Council Sheikh Tijan Faye, amongst others.