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Momodou
Denmark
11734 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Sep 2007 : 21:51:44
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Change at the Ministry, Will There Be Change?
By Modou Nyang
Alhagie Mass Axi Gai, replacing Sheikh Omar Faye at the helm at the Department of State for Sports, has left many to think what they had been hoping for has come.
Axi is a true representation of Football and by extension one can also say sports. But what makes a system work has more to do with personalities. The new SoS has inherited one of the most unfunded Department of State and also one of the most demanding portfolios due to the high expectations by the general populace.
Running a ministry with a slim budget that needed sharing between another two portfolios is what any body responsible for the running of Sports in the Gambia must be worried about. Sports involves the investment of huge sums of money and how and where to source the badly needed funds, is something that needs attention.
The new Sports Supremo will also have to look at how to revitalise the other sporting activities that are taking on a spiraling down turn. Athletics for instance enjoy a strong dominance in the junior categories in the sub-region but this feat is non existent in the senior ranks. The recent outings at the All-Africa Games and the World Championships in Athletics in Algeria and Japan, respectively, was an indication just how poor our athletes are at the top level.
Basketball, Volleyball and Handball need special attention if they are to serve their mandate fully. And the gains that are being made at the junior level in Tennis need support to enable the players break into the World Series.
All these need funding and one will not be wrong to assert that there is seemingly a donor fatigue in the country. Or better still a lack of market oriented sporting programs. However, funds need to be sourced if we want to get to where we desire.
Our new Minister is going into that office at the quadrangle with a lot of experience especially when it has to do with football. He, as the 2nd Vice President of the Gambia Football Association, was the focal person between the Football Association and the Sports Ministry and, as such, gathers a lot of knowledge on what the GFA, as an Association needs in terms of finance and other logistics. So we do not expect to see any lapses in that aspect.
Here we will be sports biased, but Youth and Religious affairs too need the expert attention of the top Sports administrator in the country. In the mean time, we just welcome our dear friend to a friendly sporting atmosphere.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 110/2007, 19 -20 September 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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