The course brought together 15 coaches, including 3 women.
The objective of the training is to build the capacity of coaches by providing them with the necessary tools and support required not only enhance their knowledge and skills but to empower and help them unlock their full potential to achieve their desired goals.
The course also aims at helping The Gambia Basketball coaches explore their aspirations, identify challenges and development approaches to overcome them, helping the association in its strive for excellence and improve on their national growth and development ambitions.
Ousman Wadda, 2nd vice president of the Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) deputising for his president, said the training came at an opportune moment when Gambian sports is taking the bottom-up approach in terms of its development at the grassroots level.
“The training is also based on The Gambia National Olympic Committee’s Strategic Plan, which has accorded high priority to train and upskill development in order to enhance not only the capacity and performance of athletes, coaches and officials but to raise the standard of National Sports Associations and the quality of sports delivery in general,” he stated.
Mr. Wadda pointed out that the success of any sport is mostly attributed to the training standards of its instructors.
Muhammed K. Janneh, executive director of The Gambia Olympic Committee (GNOC), highlighted that gender equality, diversity and inclusion in sports are key on the IOC agenda, adding that GNOC with GBA tried to register many female coaches for the training but down along the line some of the female coaches had to drop due to one reason or the other.
“Building the capacities of female coaches as well as administrators will position the Olympic sports governing bodies to meet the complexity of the dynamics sport world and also close the gender gap by making sure that the minimum target of 30% women representation in our sports is achieved as highlighted in the GNOC Strategic Plan,” he said.
Ndongo Camara, 1st vice president of GBA, thanked GNOC for their continuous support to his association.
He advised participants to take the course seriously in ensuring they move basketball to highest level.
He urged participants to be self-disciplined and determined in ensuring they attain their goals.
Mamud Jawla, deputy executive director for the National Sports Council, said developing the capacity of coaches is critical in advancing the country’s sports.
He added that tactics and techniques of the game keep changing and to match it, coaches need trainings.
Mr Jawla highlighted that their aim is to have Gambia coaches coaching the country’s respective national teams.
Roanld Owino, course director, expressed hope that the future coach of the Gambia national basketball team will come from the current batch of trainees.
“We will work with you (coaches) on how to coach, draw a season plan, break down the season into micro cycles, how to run training sessions, how to shoot, dribble, pass as well tactical formation, among others during the 6 days” he told participants.
