Bakary Badjie, Minister of Youth and Sports has assured Gambians of Government’s commitment to supporting the national team to have a successful campaign for the AFCON qualifiers. ‘‘We have the intentions to fund the chartered flight, accommodation, feeding and also pay match bonuses as part of the logistics,’’ he said.
The minister was speaking in an interview for this medium at his office in Banjul.
He noted that funds are hard to come by these days, pointing out that the outbreak of the Covid -19 pandemic has affected progress, including resource mobilisation.
On the issue of the Independence Stadium renovation, Badjie said when The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) notified his ministry that CAF banned the stadium from hosting its matches, the ministry set up a task force committee, headed by Mr Saikou K. Sanyang, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure. The taskforce, which included officials of the Stadium management, National Sports Council, among other stakeholders, was to carry out a situational analysis and need assessment for a standard Stadium, as well as to get the required amount of money. “This is because Government needs to know the findings before investing in the things needed by CAF for a standard stadium”.
The minister clarified that the issue of stadium renovation was not part of 2022 budget; that government allocated 10 million Dalasis in 2020 for renovation.
He disclosed that the committee has submitted its reports on the need assessment done by CAF and the recommendations included expanding the change rooms, pavilion expansion, and new artificial turf, and equipment.
“We are discussing with the Ministry of Finance to see how best we will get the money to refurbish the stadium," he reaffirmed.
As to where the national team will play in June, Minister Badjie confirmed that the team will play the first game in a foreign land but he is optimistic that by September when the second game will be due, it will be played in The Gambia.