The project is also aimed at promoting investment in culture, creative arts and sports to enhance resilience against climate change in local communities.
European Union Ambassador to The Gambia, Attila Lajos said the project is very timely, adding that wrestling can be a tool to promote solidarity amongst local communities.
“The project will promote traditional wrestling as cultural heritage with the creation of wrestling training clubs and use wrestling as a tool to create solidarity amongst communities,’’ he said.
He said social distancing will be very difficult to keep while wrestling, saying promotion of this activity will be halted until such time the Coronavirus pandemic subsides.
President of The Gambia Wrestling Association, Sering Modou Faye alias Cham thanked GCCI and EU for the initiative, saying that the project will go a long way in empowering wrestling in the country.
“This is the first time the association is partnering with the EU and it is very important to us because it will help in strengthening our capacity,” he said.
Mr Faye said the project will help them in fulfilling their objectives which among other things is to promote the sport nationwide and create employment for the youths.
According to him, the construction of wrestling venues will help a lot as they will also be use to sensitize the people on climate change and its impact.
President and Chief Executive Officer of Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Edrisa Mass Jobe and Alieu Secka both hailed EU and expressed hope that the project will go a long way in contributing in the post Covid-19 economic recovery of the country.
Among other things, the project is expected to construct wrestling venues and organise capacity building and training for trainers.
Gambian clubs, The Gambia Armed Forces and Gamtel FC both must produce miracles to overturn their deficits against their opponents in the 2020-2021 CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup respectively.
The Gambia women’s national team and U-20 team are both warming themselves up for their respective qualifiers.
Youth and Sports minister, Hadrammeh Sidibeh has participated in the Commonwealth ministerial virtual conference on sports and Covid-19 pandemic across the world where he described coronavirus pandemic as a global health and societal emergency that has impacted all segments of society, including sports.
The International Life Saving Federation (ILS) Africa Board of Directors has appointed Yorro Njie as a member of the Sports Commission at its meeting held on 29 May 2021.
