The Constitutional Review Committee of the GFA Normalisation Committee on Wednesday 12th September, 2012 met with FIFA envoy Nicolas Valticos, Counsel of FIFA Legal Division on the ongoing constitutional review process of the GFA draft constitution, a press release sent to our Observer Sports desk by Bakary B. Baldeh, GFA media officer has revealed.

According to the release, the round table meeting was held at the GFA secretariat in Kanifing where members of the Constitutional Review Committee discussed with him various articles of the statutes.

We reproduce below the full text of the release.

The Constitutional Review Committee of the GFA Normalisation Committee on Wednesday 12th September, 2012 met with FIFA envoy Nicolas Valticos, Counsel of FIFA Legal Division on the ongoing constitutional review process of the GFA draft constitution. The round table meeting was held at the GFA secretariat in Kanifing where members of the Constitutional Review Committee discussed with him various articles of the statutes.

The meeting with the FIFA envoy is a sequel to two earlier round table meetings held in Zurich with FIFA President Seep Blatter in March followed by two other senior officials Primo Carvalo and Prosper Abega who visited The Gambia in early July, 2012 on reviewing the GFA draft constitution. This is all part of the continuing process on the GFA draft constitution when FIFA endorsed the Normalisation Committee for The Gambia Football Association after the former executive had been dissolved by the MOYS.

The GFA Normalisation Committee is pleased to report that the meeting with Nicolas Valticos on Wednesday 12th September was a successful one where all the participants streamlined the inputs drafted in the constitution. All legal aspects were thoroughly looked into and an atmosphere of dialogue was created among the stakeholders in the meeting. It was an open dialogue which proved very productive. The Committee approached him with observations that were received from various stakeholders during a series of meetings held with them recently.

At the end both sides expressed full support and satisfaction with the text which will now be finalised by FIFA and sent to GFA for final submission to all stakeholders then FIFA would assess the amount of time allocated to the Normalisation Committee for further consultations and organising a congress to adopt the draft constitution.

Finally, the GFA Normalisation Committee wishes to thank all stakeholders for their resolve in committing to standardising Gambian football and further thank FIFA for their continuous support to the cause of the review process. While congratulating you for your partnership, do accept my highest sporting regards.

Bakary B Baldeh

Media Officer