Her Excellency, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, the vice president and minister of Women's Affairs, yesterday, received in audience,  two high ranking officers of the French defence force based in Dakar and members of the Gambia National Veterans Football Society, at her office at State House in Banjul.

Speaking to journalists after a short close door meeting with the vice president, Brigadier General Olivier Palilus, commander of the French forces based in Senegal, said they had discussed with the VP, some means of reinforcing the military cooperation between the French forces and the Gambian Armed Forces with the objective of aiding security and peace in West Africa. According to him, the Gambian armed forces have a very important role to play especially in supporting and implementating their programmes.

He also highlighted the importance of the cooperation, recalling the Gambia Armed Forces' participation during the peace process training exercise in Burkina Faso, which was the 9th exercise of the sub regional military cooperation programme. The commander of the French force added that the initiative would boost the morale of the military and enhance their capacities. He said this would also accord both forces to share ideas and skills.

GNVFS
Amadou Touray, president of the Gambia National Veterans Football Society revealed to reporters that they were at State House to show their appreciation and gratitude to the Gambian leader for his humanitarian support to their organization. According to Touray, without the Gambian leader's support, Gambian football would not have been where it is today. He said in recent years, The Gambia has registered a lot of achievements in football, noting that all these were possible because of his support of the game. Touray used the opportunity, on behalf of the veterans, to thank the Gambian leader for supporting them during their tournament. He also used the opportunity to thank the GFA for always responding to their call.

Charles Thomas, technical adviser of the organization, dwelled on the objectives of the organization. According to him, as part of the objectives of his organization, they help in developing the talents of upcoming football academies and always give both the U-17 and U-20 the required morale support. He said they were also very happy to win the trophy which was given by the Gambian leader.

Ebou Jallow, captain of the Veterans, briefed the vice president about the numerous challenges they have faced and acknowledged the Gambian leader's intervention in bailing them out at some points. He told the VP that they had also participated in the 2009 July 22nd activities. According to him, they have also planned to organize fundraising programmes to sponsor needy students in schools as a way of contributing their quota to the socio-economic development of the country. Jallow further said that he had told the VP that they are also working hard to seek for donations to equip their secretariat in The Gambia. He pointed out transportation as the major constraint of the organization.

Also speaking at the occasion, Abdoulie Kah, deputy permanent secretary -  Ministry of Youths and Sports, thanked the team for their efforts and expressed delight at the initiative of the veterans in giving technical support to the academic teams in the country. Elizabeth Renner, speaker of the National Assembly, spoke of the Gambian leader's intentions of transforming every sector of the government. She recalled the numerous support from President Jammeh, such as taking people to Mecca and Rome, and most recently, the donation of thousands of bags of sugar to Muslims throughout the country.

Speaker Renner also singled out the president's immense contribution to the health sector, which according to her, has always been the top priority of his government. She said one cannot do sport without good health. Hon. Renner used the occasion to task the veterans to continue their efforts and support the young ones. Reacting to the comments of the speakers, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, vice president and minister of Women's Affairs, thanked the veterans for their efforts. She re-echoed the president's call for attitudinal change and recommended for the veterans to render technical support to and guide the youth.

According to her, recent years have witnessed a great improvement in Gambian football. She said The Gambia as a nation is progressing and President Jammeh has a vision for the social, economic and sporting sectors. "Today, we have international players and even the whole world is talking about The Gambia. All of this was as a result of the Gambian leader's relentless support for football," she explained. According to her there will come a time when the whole world will concentrate on sporting games.

The ceremony came to close after the veterans presented certificate, tracksuits, trophy and a picture depicting all the infrastructural development registered by President Jammeh in diverse areas.