Mass Axi Gye, secretary of state for Youth and Sport, on Saturday, presided over the opening ceremony of a week-long Level One training course for Gambian female coaches, at the GFA Centre for Excellence in Yundum.  

Jointly organised by the Gambia Football Association and world football's governing body (FIFA), the training gathered twenty one female football coaches from the various zones and clubs.

During week-long training, participants will be exposed to pertinent areas in football coaching, such as women football and development programme role of the coach, session planing and preparation for season, structure of football, speed and strength training amongst others.

Declaring the session open, secretary of state Axi Gye, said the quest to develop women football in the country has long since been undertaking by the national football governing body.

He implored the trainees to stand up to the challenges, and be ready to take back to their clubs the knowledege gained guring the training.

For his part, GFA first vice-president, Major-Gneral Langtombong Tamba, said today over 30 million females are involved in active football world wide. He said this development is attributed to the strong commitment the world football governing body attaches to the promotion and development of women football.

He said where as the continual growth of female participation in the sport is very encouraging, we most nevertheless continue to proactively promote the evolution of the women's game in a positive manner.  

One of the most important, but perhaps less well known objectives, he said, is to help develop and initiate a comprehensive women's football program that will provide training for female coaches, referees and administrators.

According to Tamba, the Gambia Football Association in partnership with other stake holders will use the power of football to promote a world of social equality where every woman has an opportunity to enjoy playing football.

The course director, Monika Staab Fitas, said women football is gradually improving, noting that the game is for all sexes.  She urged women, especially girls, to venture into football, adding that FIFA allocates part of its subvention to the national associations to the promotion and empowerment of women in football simply because the game is for both sexes."