Members of the ‘Road to Azerbaijan Committee’, which was set up by the Ministry of Youths and Sports to raise funds to support the participation of the Gambia Female U17 National Football Team in the World Cup in Azerbaijan, Monday disclosed that they need nothing less than D2 million to ensure the country’s participation in the Mundial.

The Committee members made this disclosure on Monday, when they called on the vice president and minister of Women’s Affairs, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, at her office in State House. Accompanied by officials of the Gambia Football Association (GFA)Normalisation Committee, the Road to Azerbaijan Committee members were at State House to solicit support from the Gambian leader through VP Njie-Saidy, as the international female football showdown draws nearer.

Speaking at the meeting, Tombong Saidy, the chairman of Gambia For Gold said this being the first time in the history of The Gambia that a female football team qualified to a Fifa World Cup, it is a testimony to how far female football has developed in the country. He expressed the need for all to complement the efforts of the government taking into account the giant strides made by the team. “We are therefore seeking the assistance of the Gambian leader through Dr Njie-Saidy to ensure that our country participate in this event,” he stated.

Sambou Suso, president of the Gambia’s Female Artists Association, assured that they are ever ready to support the Female U17 team all the way, adding that they have been organising fundraising events in order to gather money for the team. Fatoumatta Jah, president of the Gambia Women’s Federation, expounded on the numerous achievements of the team. She urged everyone to assist the team, as she is confident they will bring the trophy home.

Alhaji Omar Sey, the vice chairman and spokesperson of the GFA Normalisation Committee, thanked VP Njie-Saidy for her continuous support to Gambian sports, especially football. He called on all and sundry to be part of the crusade and support the Female U17 team in their quest to bring home the coveted trophy.

Sey also thanked President Jammeh and his entire cabinet through VP Njie-Saidy, for what he called their remarkable support to the development of Gambian football. “We will do our best to make sure we are technically prepared to make The Gambia proud,” he promised.

The minister of Youths and Sports, Alieu K Jammeh, acknowledged the numerous supports the government continues to give to football development in the country. “And not only the support but also the conducive environment that the government has created since 1994 to date make these young ladies excel in sports. This is all possible due to environment created by the government,” he added.

He recalled the arrival of the female U17 team after they qualified for the World Cup, and all the praises showered on the girls on that particular day by VP Njie-Saidy. “The support we had from her was so great and she even took the U-17 Female National Football team to a reception. If you do well in Azerbaijan, be rest assured of being rewarded maximally and effectively. We will not only stop at watching and receiving you, but we will go further as we know the heart of the president. So go and do well in Azerbaijan,” he urged the team, while assuring of government’s full support at all times.

For her part, VP Njie Saidy described the day is another symbolic day, especially for the development of female sports in the country. She stated that sports can bring many positive things which government cannot do, like using sports as a means of reconciliation.

VP Njie-Saidy also said that gone are the days when mothers don’t want their children to play football.

She noted that today, sports is a lucrative business, which can also develop one’s country. She said this is made possible due to the dynamic leadership of President Jammeh, as he is committed to the development of sports in the country. She called on everyone in the country to support the worthwhile initiative either in cash or kind, assuring that the whole country is behind them.

The vice president then expressed optimism that the girls will deliver, taking into account that they are among the 16 teams that qualified out of 202 countries. She urged them to consider this achievement as a pride and honour while calling on all to embrace the development with positivity. VP Njie-Saidy eventually presented a sum of D10, 000 as her personal contribution to the fundraising drive.