The deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Youth and Sports believes the Female U-17 team of The Gambia can go all the way in bringing further success to the country at the global football stage.

Kumba Conateh-Nam was speaking to reporters at the Kairaba Beach Hotel Garden on Tuesday after his Ministry hosted theteam to a cocktail party. DPS Conateh said the party was hosted by her Ministry as a sign of appreciation to the team after they secured qualification to the U-17 World Championship slated for September and October of this year in Azerbaijan.

According to her, the players have shown respect, camaraderie and determination in the camp during the course of the qualification process and having spent three nights with them in Tunis, she has decided to take ownership of the team and henceforth adopted the team while also promising her Ministry’s unflinching support. She also commended the efforts of the technicians for what she called the great job they did to make sure that a maiden qualification was secured.

She also used the opportunity to call on the Technical Committee of the Gambia Football Association to draw its plans for the team ahead of the championship which she said will be funded by her Ministry. She also renewed calls for the private sector to help in complementing the efforts of the government.

After winning gold at the 2009 African Male U-17 Championship in Algeria, the Gambian team was sent on a nation-wide Caravan tour. When DPS Conateh-Nam was asked if the female team will also be accorded a similar treatment, she said the FA should think about the idea first, while assuring that her Ministry will have no problem doing that.