 |
|
| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
 Posted - 14 Sep 2009 : 17:26:43
|
NAMs Grill Sports Minister
By Saikou Jammeh
The Gambia’s Minister for Youths and Sport Sheriff Gomez has come under fire from members of the National Assembly with regards to the salary of the head coach of The Gambia’s senior national football team, Paul Put.
It was a moment of wrangling at the national assembly chambers as one member after the other emphatically demanded to know in no uncertain terms, how much the coach is paid.
This situation came hard on the heels of a question from the member for Serre Kunda Central who wanted to know how much the head coach is being paid?
The minister in reply said, “after thorough consultations, it is my humble view that the issue of the coach’s salary should not be a subject for public discussion as it is personal to the coach. I can however assure the Hon. Members that the coach’s contract commensurate with his caliber.”
In reaction to this assertion from the Minister, the NAM for Lower Fulladu picked up the storm, saying that the coach is paid from taxpayers’ money and therefore implored the minister to revisit his answer. Mr. Sheriff Gomez maintained that as far as he is aware, the coach is not paid under any budgetary line. He thus insisted on keeping the Coach’s salary as secret.
Also in reaction to the minister’s insistence, member for Niamina West said the position of the coach is a public one and urged the minister to give a definite answer, before the Speaker of the Assembly Elisabeth Renna intervened. She told members that the minister had said he is not paid from public estimates. “The coach is not paid from heaven”, the member for Tumana, Hon. Netty Baldeh countered after the Speaker had landed: “The President’s salary is made public why not the coach? You cannot hide it from us”.
The majority leader, also adding his voice to the debate said the reason why they wanted to know is not only to make it public but to also scrutinize so as to know whether it commensurate with his work.
“Why should it be hidden from us when the president’s pay is made public,” Hon. Sedia Jatta looking straight into the minister’s eyes, fired: “You must tell us”.
At this juncture, other members suggested that the minister puts it in writing and make it available to members. To this, another member retorted, “we want to do it at the Bantaba”.
Meanwhile, nominated member, Hon. Seedy Njie questioned as to who then is paying the coach since it is not in the statutory budget? This was considered by the Speaker to be a new question and to be written and addressed to the Minister. Hon Njie and some other members maintained that the question was supplementary.
The minister then informed members that he did not mean to hide it from members, but rather it is best to keep it away from the public, noting that it can be provided to members if they wanted it that way.
In a related development answering to another question posed by Serrekunda Central NAM as to whether the money paid to foreign coach could not have been better used to develop grassroots football, the minister said considering the performance of the team during qualifying rounds there is a need to maintain the engagement of a foreign coach to maintain the momentum gained. He however added that the issue of developing grassroots football is a collective responsibility on all stakeholders in national development.
He said the sporting fraternity including his ministry and GFA and other sporting bodies shared the concern. He disclosed that GFA have plans to commence academy football in near future.
Source: The Daily News
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2009 : 19:09:35
|
Momodu,
This is wat is expected of them anyway. If they continue in this way, they could salvage part of their battered image. |
madiss |
 |
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2009 : 19:29:35
|
Madiba, I agree.
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
Dembish
Gambia
284 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2009 : 20:22:40
|
| The public should not know, WHY? |
There is no egg without a chicken, and no chicken without egg. |
|
|
|
shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2009 : 21:56:26
|
| The coach is paid by Jammeh, Lang Tombong Tamba and probably Africel. I could remember a GFA official public saying so. It was either in the Observer, gambiasports.gm or gamsports.com. Some people are going to get a thorough ear bashing from the highest authority after this. Nobody discloses the Sheikh's finances in public. Why do you think Gomez was adamantly arrogant? |
|
|
|
sab
United Kingdom
912 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2009 : 23:03:42
|
I remember the article also:
http://www.gambiasports.gm/portal/mobile/football/60.html |
The world would be a poorer place if it was peopled by children whose parents risked nothing in the cause of social justice, for fear of personal loss. (Joe Slovo - African revolutionary) |
|
|
|
Moe
USA
2326 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2009 : 23:24:21
|
You shaka whats wrong with both you and Sab? why ya'll gotta put HE out like that.,this is the start of something new and am liking it.,the coach is definitely not being paid from Heaven as mentioned.................................................Peacequote:
Originally posted by shaka
The coach is paid by Jammeh, Lang Tombong Tamba and probably Africel. I could remember a GFA official public saying so. It was either in the Observer, gambiasports.gm or gamsports.com. Some people are going to get a thorough ear bashing from the highest authority after this. Nobody discloses the Sheikh's finances in public. Why do you think Gomez was adamantly arrogant?
|
I am Jebel Musa better yet rock of Gibraltar,either or,still a stronghold and a Pillar commanding direction
The GPU wants Me Hunted Down for what I don't know ..... |
|
|
|
shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2009 : 23:25:55
|
"I want to assure the Scorpions and all Gambians that as far as I and my government are concerned, we are going to retain both the coach and the trainers, whatever it takes. Even if there is no sponsor, I am going to pay for their salaries as long as they wish to stay," President Jammeh revealed.
Source: http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/2008/10/14/jammeh-hails-gallant-scorpions-bravery
The coach was being paid by the Gambia’s biggest GSM operator, Africell, until the Gambian President, Professor Alhagie Yahya AJJ Jammeh, made a public undertaking to bankroll the Belgian's wages and allowances.
The contract making good the President's pledge was signed by the Secretary of State for Youths and Sports and the President of the GFA Mr Seedy MB Kinteh and the coach himself.
After signing the contract, Paul Put thanked the Gambian public for their support and the Gambian President for giving him the opportunity to extend his stay in the Gambia.
Source: http://www.gambiasports.gm/portal/mobile/football/60.html
VP Tamba commended Africell for coming to their aid to secure the services of a foreign coach at a time when the country needs it most.
“The GFA was supposed to provide accommodation and transport for the coach but President Jammeh came to their rescue by providing both accommodation and a vehicle for the coach,” VP Tamba revealed. He also commended the proprietor of Sea View Hotel, Hatib Janneh Junior, for his support and intervention in the process of signing the new coach.
In his statement at the ceremony the President of the GFA, Seedy MB Kinteh, challenged the coach to make sure that The Gambia qualify for both Angola and South Africa. “You have a big task ahead of you,” he said.
Commenting on the contract agreement, Mr Kinteh stated that they have signed a one-year agreement with the coach, which is subjected to termination with one month’s notice. He told those gathered that Africell has paid the coach two months in advance. He also seized the opportunity to commend Africell for living up to their social responsibility.
Source: http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/2008/5/21/gfa-finally-sign-coach-paul-put
|
|
|
|
Moe
USA
2326 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2009 : 23:26:38
|
Madiss i don't think they have an image ,they need to make one in these demanding times......................................Peacequote:
Originally posted by MADIBA
Momodu,
This is wat is expected of them anyway. If they continue in this way, they could salvage part of their battered image.
|
I am Jebel Musa better yet rock of Gibraltar,either or,still a stronghold and a Pillar commanding direction
The GPU wants Me Hunted Down for what I don't know ..... |
|
|
|
shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2009 : 23:42:31
|
Moe the NAMs were very wrong to say the coach was not being paid from heaven. Unless of course Allah does not dwell in heaven, where he also have his Central Bank. The APRC NAMs will have have a sleepless night after this for not doing simple research or not listening when the president was making the public pledge in a ceremony most of them attended. Some people just attend the Sheikh functions for the wrong reasons. They don't listen to what the Sheikh has to say. The Sheikh will be terribly displeased with them. Thanks for the link Sab.quote:
Originally posted by Moe
You shaka whats wrong with both you and Sab? why ya'll gotta put HE out like that.,this is the start of something new and am liking it.,the coach is definitely not being paid from Heaven as mentioned.................................................Peacequote:
Originally posted by shaka
The coach is paid by Jammeh, Lang Tombong Tamba and probably Africel. I could remember a GFA official public saying so. It was either in the Observer, gambiasports.gm or gamsports.com. Some people are going to get a thorough ear bashing from the highest authority after this. Nobody discloses the Sheikh's finances in public. Why do you think Gomez was adamantly arrogant?
|
|
|
|
terangba
Egypt
225 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2009 : 05:33:05
|
This seems to be a new beginning, hopefully it lasts. For a moment I thought I was reading a story, well who knew our NAMS are capable of scrutinizing issues of concern to the public. This is a far cry from the rubber stamp that they are well known for?
WOW!
|
God gave men dominion over the beasts and not over his fellow men unless they submit of their own free will. - Napoleon |
|
|
|
Jack
Belgium
384 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2009 : 10:06:22
|
Why didnt the NAMS question about the history of Paul Put. He was deeply involved (and the brain )in bribing matches together with chinese gambling companies in the Belgian league 3 yrs ago . As a result of that he has no license anymore to coach any european clubs.
|
|
|
|
kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2009 : 10:27:24
|
quote:
Originally posted by terangba
This seems to be a new beginning, hopefully it lasts. For a moment I thought I was reading a story, well who knew our NAMS are capable of scrutinizing issues of concern to the public. This is a far cry from the rubber stamp that they are well known for?
WOW!
That is how I feel too. I hope they keep up this trend. Even if Jammeh and others pay the coach, it should be public knowledge. However, it is not proper for a coach of a national team,acting in a public position to be bankrolled 'privately' by the President who is also serving in a public position. |
|
|
|
MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2009 : 13:14:06
|
Originally posted by Moe
Madiss i don't think they have an image ,they need to make one in these demanding times.
Moe,
Then they should grab the opportunity to enter into the history books for the right reasons. History would gracefully refer to them as the guys who transformed wat is rubber stamp assembly to a credible and a truly peoples assembly. |
madiss |
Edited by - MADIBA on 15 Sep 2009 13:16:16 |
|
|
|
shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2009 : 15:18:31
|
Well noted Jack. That should have been the foremost issue. I have pointed that issue here in Bantaba when the coach was being offered his initial contract. The sports ministry under the sacked former minister Mass Axi Gai had done their home work and decided not to employ the coach because of his distasteful history in favour of Gambia coach Bonu Johnson only to be overruled by the second most powerful man in the Gambia, then Brigadier General Lang Tombong Tamba(Second Vice President of GFA). Axi Gai end up losing his job for doing what was professionally and morally right. I had questioned the role of General Tamba within the GFA executive body and had stated that his authority was too overwhelming for the sports ministry to execute its function properly. I bet Tamba and his GFA poodles could not believe their luck on the availability of a quality coach as Put for so cheap despite his professional misgivings. Put was on top of the Senegalese FA's wanted list until they discovered his unacceptable crime following their shameful exit from both CAN 2010 and Fifa World Cup 2010. He had held secret talks with the Senegalese and was ready to jump ship in the event of an invitation by the Senegalese FA. Following this shameful rejection it was only then that he decided to sign a new contract with GFA bankrolled by the Sheikh, using the much publicised luring attempt by the Senegalese as a bargaining chip. Our NAMs are so funny Jack. They just don't know the public priorities. Despite the fact that the Sheikh was coughing up the coach's renumerattions is public knowledge, they somehow missed it totally. You wonder what the hell some of them really do. The opposition NAMS can be excused because it is in their interest and the public's that this issue was raise at the National Assembly but if anybody really believe that APRC NAMs were publicly scrutinising Jammeh then they are only fooling themselves. This was just a lapse on their part due to their ignorance of events in the Gambia. Do you really believe that if these the-president-is-always-right robots would have stated what they said had they known that the Sheikh was bankrolling the coach? Absolutely no!! They would have been too busy crucifying anybody who dared come up with such a question. This saga is a typical example of what the Gambian parliament should have been but what it never is.quote:
Originally posted by Jack
Why didnt the NAMS question about the history of Paul Put. He was deeply involved (and the brain )in bribing matches together with chinese gambling companies in the Belgian league 3 yrs ago . As a result of that he has no license anymore to coach any european clubs.
|
|
|
|
MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2009 : 16:50:35
|
Guys,
This could well be Hon. Alagie Sillah's coup. A former national team coach whose achievement was little. Now NAM Banjul Nrth. But he has been known to undermine foreign coaches just to take over from them inheriting their fat allowances as well. A case in point a swedish coach who was provided to Gambia on TA, GG was providing this guy housing , transport and 'allowance' of D12000 then. Alagie was hs assistant, and he alledgedly told the boys to revolt. He incited the boys to go against the coach's instrcutions in training. Having been frustrated the coach left. Alagie immediately took over from the swede inheriting all except the housing component. The salary at that time was unprecedented. yet Alagies achievement were a constant, ooh HARDLUCK.And this was almost at the same time that the senegalese wonder team of world cup 2002 was conceived. The senegalese team at the time was coached by a german TA, peter schneider, the great mastermind behind that great senegalese team.
Lets watch patiently. |
madiss |
Edited by - MADIBA on 15 Sep 2009 17:09:00 |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
© 2005-2024 Nijii |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
