By Lamarana S. Jallow
The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) has handed over four newly constructed football fields (mini- stadia) to committees in Bwiam, Foni Kansala; and Julafarr in Kiang West; Janjanbureh; and Diabugu in the Sandu Ddistrict of Upper River Region, following the successful completion of the projects.
The facilities in the rural areas, whose first phases have been completed by the contractors, are part of the Ministry’s goal of improving the sports infrastructure in the provincial part of The Gambia, as government strife to decentralise development.
Addressing the beneficiaries at both places, Youth and Sports Minister Bakary Y. Badjie, who led a delegation comprising officials from his ministry and the National Assembly Select Committee on sports, underscored President Barrow’s commitments to national development; especially in the youth and sports sector.
He thanked the beneficiaries for their understanding and patience during the period of delay in the implementation of the projects.
“I want to reassure you that the government is committed to continuing work on developing sports infrastructure as a means of sustaining development and maintaining peace among people through sports. I want you the direct beneficiaries to ensure proper care of the facilities and to manage the revenue from gate takings and proceeds for reinvestment on maintenance and improvement of the facility,” he told the local communities.
At the Janjanbureh football field, the delegation inspected the football field before handing it over to the concerned stakeholders.
During discussions, Ms. Ndey Marie Njie, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry reiterated the ministry’s dedication to building sporting infrastructure and fostering the development of young people for the country’s sustainable growth.
She assured the stakeholders of the ministry’s intentions to further projects to come.
Omar Jammeh, National Assembly Member for Janjanbureh, praised the ministry for its efforts in constructing football fields, acknowledging the benefits to the community while also highlighting challenges that need addressing.
Saikou Bah, Chairperson of the Youth and Sports Select Committee at the National Assembly, urged the beneficiaries to maintain the facilities, stressing the importance of using taxpayers’ money wisely.
The delegation also visited the office of Governor of Central River Region, Mr. Ousman Bah, who expressed gratitude to the Government of The Gambia for their initiatives through the ministry.
In the Upper River Region, Hon. Ebrima Jaiteh, National Assembly Member for Sandu district, thanked the Government of The Gambia through the ministry for initiating these projects.
He said they are hoping to benefit from more projects in the future, and assured that his people are committed to maintaining and managing the facilities.
Ebrima Darboe and Ebrima D Bah, the Chairman and the Secretary General of the Sandu Batafa sports committee, respectively, thanked the ministry for their efforts and called for more support to do the remaining work including pavilion and athletics track.
The communities of Kafuta, Bwiam in the West Coast Region, Julafarr Kiang West in the Lower River Region, Janjanbureh in the Central River Region, and Diabugu, Sandu in the Upper River Region are the beneficiaries of the football fields.
The strategic investment is poised to foster talent and promote community sports engagement in these regions but the Kafuta football field couldn’t be handed over to the community due to incompletion caused by some minor issues that the delegation deem necessary to be fixed.
