We need solution to Gambia women football, Modou Demba

Gambia women football seeks a possible solution from the Gambia Football Federation Normalization Committee (GFF) after it has experienced steady setback over the years.

The need to recognise, support and revamp women football, as has been done to male football in the country, was highlighted during a press briefing held yesterday at the Serrekunda East Mini Stadium.

Speaking at the gathering, Modou Demba, a women’s league representative who has a team called Future Bi, said women’s football did not support the adoption of the constitution.

Women in sport, particularly in football, are not an interest group but partners to the GFF in the promotion of football in the country.

“If the male teams are affiliated, why not the female teams,” Demba asked. “We have first and second division teams, like our counterparts, why should we be seen as an interest group.”

He pointed out that the ones regarded as interest groups are the coaches and referees among others but not the women teams.

They are playing as a team and affiliated as a member, he said, adding that they should not be regarded as interest group. Normalization, he said, should be done across the board.

He says the GFF should circulate the draft constitution to the women football, who should read it properly and get it circulated.  “We are ready to apply and register,” Demba says.

A representative of the women football, Veronic Malack, disclosed their concern, saying that for the past 14 months, they have witnessed a breakdown of communication between them and the Normalization Committee.

Women football has built a new sensation in the country, she said, adding that there has not been competitive women league for the past two years in the country.

She added that through efforts and hard work they have managed to qualify for the World Cup competition in Azerbaijan.

“Our qualification to the World Cup is indicative of our preparedness to compete in sport, which is being dominated by our counterparts,” she said.

Veronic added that through their respective clubs they have all registered and affiliated to the GFF to be equally treated, saying that FIFA and other football bodies have registered the participation of women football in sport.

“In the ongoing FIFA subvention to the GFF, women football has a quota,” she claims, asking why women football has not been equally treated as much as their male counterparts in the GFF constitution.

Women in football have always exercised their democratic rights to vote in all the constitutions in the previous years, he said, asking: “Why not now.”

She said the head of state has encouraged the participation of women in all government structures, pointing out that denying the female team the right to vote in the constitution is frustrating the efforts made by the Government of The Gambia under the leadership of President Yahya Jammeh.

“We are all in this together and we should not involve in gender discrimination but we should have equal opportunities in pursuing our aims and objectives in sport,” she said.