Gambia Elect New Olympic President

GNOC President Momodou Dibba, he bagged 26 out of 47 votes

The Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) has named a new president in some how calm election conducted amidst heavy security presence on Saturday at the Gambia Olympic House at Mile, Bakau.

The president of the Gambia Draught Association Mr Momodou Dibba was appointed the new GNOC chief after his sole opponent Abdoulie Baks Touray chose to boycott the election before the start of the vote. The first scheduled election in October 2010 was aborted after Touray’s claim of constitutional irregularities.

This time, Touray and his faithful’s attempt to disrupt the election process didn’t bear any fruit after the Gambia Independent Electoral Commission – the body mandated to conduct the election - decided to proceed after a quorum was met. At the start of the meeting, Touray’s supporters were shouting over how the election should be conducted, amidst fears they would be defeated should they participate. And before anyone cast a ballot, Touray immediately decided to bow out of the race in a move meant to discredit any decision that might be reached at the gathering.

But his ‘tactical withdrawal’ at the eleventh hour was rendered meaningless after the former Gambia Football Association secretary general – Dibba - went ahead to pull 26 votes from the possible 47 [two of which were absent]. Many delegates and observers, who appeared satisfied with the election process, spoke of the hope that the weekend’s poll will mark the end of the leadership crisis that has been tearing the Gambia Olympic body apart.

In his post election speech, Mr Dibba said the winner of the election was Gambian sports as he called on all stakeholders to sheath their swords and help move sports in the country forward. He added that his 10-point development agenda unveiled before the election would be followed to the letter with the backing of the GNOC Executive Bureau.

The fight over the Gambia National Olympic Committee is touted as the most heated sports row in the history of Gambian sports that drew the attention of both the country’s legislative and executive bodies.

Author: Nanama Keita

Congress Invitation to All Media Houses

INVITATION

With the above caption of our, the above Federation is kinldly inviting your Media House to their first Congress scheduled for the 19th February 2011, at the Independence Stadium, Bakau. At 12pm Sharp.

The Federation shall be very much happy to recieve a representative from you Media house to cover the event.

The objectives of the Gambia Swimming Federation are :

      ARTICLE 3 – OBJECTIVES

      3.1 To conduct training programs for athletes, coaches, judges, and other officials.

3.2  To promote, encourage, organize and develop Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Synchronized Swimming, Open Water Swimming and other related aquatic activities in Gambia (hereinafter referred to as the “aquatic activities”);

3.3 To collaborate with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and other organizations having as their purpose the promotion of swimming on an national scale. This shall be in collaboration with the Gambia National Olympic Committee and National Sports Council.

3.4 To qualify judges at the national level.

3.5 To organize aquatic meetings or competitions for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo and Synchronized Swimming, Open Water Swimming and in connection therewith to set the terms and conditions for their participation and play; and offer, procure, give or contribute towards prizes and awards;

3.5 To implement an anti-doping program in accordance with such anti doping rules as may be enacted for that purpose; to conduct in- and out of- competition doping controls, whether announced or unannounced; whether random, weighted or targeted; whether with advance notice or without advance notice; to conduct doping controls at all world-level competitions; and to ensure that anti-doping programs are implemented and that doping controls are conducted at national, regional and continental levels.

3.6 To sponsor, support and participate in any National, Regional or international      competitions Swimming, Diving, and Water Polo, Synchronized Swimming, Open Water Swimming and other related aquatic activities;

3.7 To uphold the rules of Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Synchronized Swimming, Open Water Swimming and other related aquatic activities as may from time to time be approved by the Federation Internationale de Natation (“FINA”);

3.8 To promote and safeguard the interests and objectives of the FEDERATION and employ, when necessary, the funds of the FEDERATION for that purpose;

3.9 To obtain sponsors and funds to enable the FEDERATION to meet the objectives set out herein;

3.10 To coordinate with organizations, e.g. National Sports Council, Department of Youths and Sports and the Gambia National Olympic Committee and other interested parties in aquatic activities in Gambia;

3.11 To assist in the training of coaches, instructors and technical officials for the aquatic activities by organizing courses and ensuring that such courses and training contribute to the development of the aquatic activities in Gambia;

3.12 To have a selection committee to select competitors, to represent Gambia and/or the FEDERATION;                                                                         

3.13 To be affiliated to World Bodies or organizations, including FINA and African Swimming Confederation (CANA), which promote Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Synchronized Swimming, Open Water Swimming and other related aquatic activities and to ensure that this Constitution and the rules of the FEDERATION complement, where applicable, those of world bodies or organizations;

3.14 Generally, to do all such other acts or things as may be incidental to, connected with or conducive to the attainment of the aforementioned objectives.

3.15 The FEDERATION is run solely as a governing body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Synchronized Swimming and Open Water Swimming, and any aquatic activities in The Gambia.

Your present to this program shall really be appreciated.

      Looking to seeing you there.

      Yours Faithfully

      Yorro Njie.

       Coordinator

Cc :

     File.                  

 

Gambia Swimming Federation

Independence Stadium Bakau P.O Box 3338, Serre Kunda, The Gambia

Tel: (220) 363-636-3 / 9918765/ 6918765

gambia-swimming-federation@hotmail.com

Lamin Sarr Express Disappointment with GFA

By Omar Bah

U-20 Coach Lamin Sarr

Following a press release from the Gambia Football Association (GFA) office stating that the former U-17 coach Lamin Sambou, two of his assistants Ebrima Manneh and Jean Joof were sacked as a result of Gambia’s Poor performance during the just ended Africa U17 in Ruanda, Sarr expressed his disappointment with the Gambia’s Football governing body.

According to him [Sarr] Foreign Coaches are given more advantages by the GFA than local based coaches stating that Sambou and his assistants are all very good coaches and should have been given the chance to prove themselves.

“If anyone says Lamin Sambou did not do well, I will disagree with you, as everyone wants to be successful in your work especially a noble job like coaching where nobody wants to lose.” Adding that neither players no coaches would want to lose a game having managed to qualify for the competition.

He then mentioned that he is preparing for the upcoming U-20 competition in Libya but stated that he may be the next victim.

GPA Snatch a point in Senegal in the CAF Champions league Qualifiers

By Omar Bah

The reigning champions of the GFA first division league GPA began their qualifying round for the CAF championship away to Jarraf in Senegal who are also the reigning champions of the Senegalese first division league. The game was played on Saturday 29^th February 2011.

The ferry boys started well in the qualifiers away from home with an exciting performance in Dakar Senegal. Bonu Johnson’s team were the better side for the first 45 minutes of the encounter creating many scoring chances but they failed to find the net before half time as both teams headed off to the dressing room leaving the game  at zeros.

The second half was different went the GPA tactician Peter Bonu Johnson made his changes, bringing on the likes of Saloum Faal who was with the U-17 in Rwanda to strengthen his team in front of goal.

His changes made the game tougher for the host Jarraf who are yet to win a game in the 2011 Senegalese first division League after playing five games drawing four and losing one. 

The Ferry Boys took the lead in the 51^st minute cutesy of Hatab but they could not contain the pressure from the host in the last 20minutes or so who were fighting tooth and nail for that equalizer and they eventually got it in the 86^th minute of the game through Ibrahim Ndoye.  

But it was not all they needed as earning a point at home was not enough, and it will make things more difficult for them when they visit the Ferry Boys for the return leg in Banjul.

After the game the Jarraf head coach Lamin Njie said the defending tactic of his opponent [GPA] made it more difficult for them as they were unable to break the well organised defence of the visiting team (GFA).

Bantabaa Win SESDO Junior Tournament

By Mandu Sanneh

Bantabaa F.C, a junior team from Faji Kunda have been crowned as Champions of the Serrekunda East Junior’s tournament after beating Medina FC of Tallinding by a goal to nil in the final at the East mini stadium on Saturday.

Joyful Bantabaa,   Glitering Trophy   and Frustrated Medina

The competition witnessed by many sports dignitaries was the first of its kind that the Serrekunda East Sport Development Organization (SESDO) organized inorder to give young players of the area to show case their talents on pitch.

Medina F.C dominated the first half with many scoring chances but were unable to find Bantabaa’s goal net, forcing the first half to end in a goalless draw.

After a poor first half, Bantaba came with fresh legs into the second half and started to play well. Mawdo Faal netted the opener for his side in the 59 minute after benefiting from a free kick. Just a minute after that, Medina’s Alasana Sanneh missed a clear chance which could have been an equalizer, before his team’s Omar Fofana was shown the way out by the central referee with a straight red card when found guilty of knocking Lamin Dibba of Bantabaa.

Pressure continued to mount as both teams were in search of a goal but they could not. The game ended one-nil in favor of the Faji Kunda youth players, Bantabaa.

Coach Ansumana Jammeh of Medina F.C expressed disappointed after losing to his opponent saying “I feel proud, my boys played good football but we were unlucky”.

Meanwhile Dembo Keita, Bantabaa’s Coach said he was excited for winning the first junior tournament staged by SESDO.

Bantaba F.C, winners of S/kunda east junior tournament went home with a glittering trophy and a cash price of  three Thousand Dalasis (D3, 000.00) while Medina F.C, runners up received two thousand dalasis (D2, 000.00). 

Gambia U-17 coach sacked

Lamin Sambou

The Gambia Football Association on Thursday announced the removal of Lamin Sambou from the post of national Under-17 coach after the Gambia's poor result in Rwanda.

Sambou's two assiatnts - Ebrima Manneh and Jane Joof - were also sacked in one of the most drastic measures taken by the GFA in recent memory.

Although announced on Thursday, the decision to sack the three coaches is believed to have been taken on Tuesday after an emergency meeting of executive committee members.

In several interviews after the Baby Scorpions' less-than-impressive campaign in Rwanda Sambou has consistently blamed his players for "not following instructions".

The GFA, in a press statement released on Thursday, left no doubt that it held the technicians solely responsible.

Press Release

“The Executive Committee of The Gambia Football Association has reviewed the performance of The Gambia U-17 National team in the 9th CAF African U-17 Championship held in Rwanda from January 8-22, 2011 and has since decided to terminate the services of the Head Coach, Mr. Lamin Sambou and his Assistant Coaches, Messrs. Ebrima Manneh and Jane Joof with immediate effect.

This decision was reached at an emergency Executive Committee meeting that thoroughly scrutinized the performance of our National team and drew the conclusion that the team’s failure to effectively and meaningfully perform in Rwanda was unquestionably technical. As such, the services of the Technical Staff have been terminated effectively.

The Executive Committee sincerely apologise to the entire Gambian populace for the dismal performance of our team in Rwanda 2011. We wish to reassure all and sundry that the factors liable for such a poor showing will be thoroughly examined and appropriate remedial measures shall be taken to ensure a more meaningful performance of our National teams in International competitions in the future.

The Executive Committee of The Gambia Football Association extends its heartfelt appreciation and thanks to H.E Sheikh Professor Dr. Alhagie Yahya A.J.J Jammeh, Chief Patron of the GFA for his overwhelming support to the GFA and the National teams. To the Ministry of Youth and Sports, we express our sincere thanks for the collaborative partnership. To the media (both private and public) and the entire football fraternity, we thank you for your continuous support and encouragement.”

Poor Results

The Gambia went to Rwanda as defending champions after winning the 2009 tournament in Algeria without losing a match and conceding only one goal in five matches.

They lost their opening game against Congo 3-0, won 1-0 against Mali and were hammered 4-1 by Cote d'Ivoire to exit the Rwanda tournament with the country's worst-ever result at Under-17 level.

IOC Warn GNOC of Outside Interference

The International Olympic committee IOC, in an apparent response to the Gambia’s most talked about GNOC election has warned the local Olympic committee (GNOC) that it will not tolerate any outside interference in the  election process and/or in the GNOC’s internal affairs and operations. This was contained in a letter addressed to the Interim GNOC chief Beatrice Allen.
In the letter, the IOC threatened that any election not conducted under the jurisdiction of Mrs Allen would not be recognized.
The letter reads: Situation of your NOC
Dear Ms Allen,
We have been informed of the difficulties that you personally and your NOC are currently facing.
It is our understanding that a legal procedure is ongoing, however, knowing that elections within your NOC are scheduled on 12th February 2011, we would like to reiterate that: (i) The IOC will not tolerate any outside interference in this election process and/or in the NOC’s internal affairs and operations.
(ii) The election process must be conducted exclusively under the jurisdiction of your NOC and in particular under your leadership, as NOC Acting President, according to the process that was established by your NOC and with the list of voting members endorsed by your NOC in accordance with your NOC’s Constitution and the Olympic Charter.
Should this process not be conducted as planned by your NOC and endorsed by the IOC, the IOC (i) would not be in a position to recognise the outcomes and results of the General Assembly and
(ii) would be forced to take appropriate action for the protection of your NOC in accordance with the Olympic Charter and in particular Rule 28.9 which states:
“Apart from the measures and sanctions provided in the case of infringement of the Olympic Charter, the IOC Executive Board may take any appropriate decisions for the protection of the Olympic Movement in the country of an NOC, including suspension of or withdrawal of recognition from such NOC if the constitution, law or other regulations in force in the country concerned, or any act by any governmental or other body causes the activity of the NOC or the making or expression of its will to be hampered.”
We hope that everyone will understand the gravity of the situation and will strictly respect the jurisdiction of your NOC and the principles mentioned above which are based on your
NOC’s Constitution and the Olympic Charter.
We thank you for your continuous collaboration and we kindly ask you to keep us informed of any development in this matter. The letter Reads.