The secretary of state for youth and sports, Sheriff Gomez, says if sports national associations want to achieve their goals, they must elect leaders who can manage with a "vision for the Association".

SOS Gomez made the remarks while addressing representatives of twenty-two registered sporting bodies - a meeting that took place at the national stadium on Saturday.

Mr Gomez started by telling the delegates that he did not call the meeting in keeping with the tradition of every new minister meeting with sports associations but he summoned the weekend gathering to drive home his point that "it is a collective responsibility to develop sports in the country".

The central theme of his address was that associations have to be inclusive and their leaders proactive, especially with regard to ensuring adequate funding for yearly activities and transparency of management. "If Associations can't tap the talents of our youths across the country they will be denying the 1.5 million Gambians the right to enjoy sports," Gomez argued.  "Leaders of Associations should go down to the village and involve people down there and stop traveling, hosting expensive activities and then complain about resources.

"Why set up an Association if you can't create ideas to develop that sport? You don't set up an Association to get money; you do it because of your passion for the sport and its development.

"If you cannot reach everyone in the country you are yet to be called an Association," the minister concluded.
Source: gambiasportsonline