Speaking in an interview, Minister Badjie revealed that at least six athletes representing The Gambia this summer failed to return with their delegations. He noted that while the government invests heavily in preparing athletes and securing visas, some abandon their teams upon arrival abroad.
“If they abscond, they already think they have a bigger opportunity. But settling down in those areas becomes a problem, and that act is also affecting their fellow athletes,” Badjie said.
Among the cases cited was the Gambia Beach Volleyball team, which qualified for the World Championship in the Netherlands. The government had intervened to facilitate visas for the team after initial difficulties, but three of the four athletes absconded. Similarly, a Fortune FC player disappeared while participating in a European competition, and members of a Gambian team traveling to Scotland also failed to return.
Minister Badjie warned that such incidents could erode trust between Gambian authorities and foreign embassies, making it harder for future athletes to secure travel documents.
“All these incidents are not something to be proud of, because as time goes on, the embassies will no longer trust the government,” he cautioned.
Despite these challenges, the Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting athletes, stressing that facilitating visas remains part of its responsibility to promote sports development in the country.
