In addition to organising a national league for league clubs, the Gambia football governing body, GFA, is set to stage a maiden inter-academy football tournament that will gather all registered football academies in the country.

A special committee has already been set up to ensure the successful organisation of the tourney which is in line with the FIFA's call for the regularisation of football academies in the member-states. Kebba Ceesay, the chairman of the select committee, said the competition will start in the first week of September 2009.

Ceesay, a one time vice-chairman of the GFA technical committee, said the Gambia is among the countries that have been tasked by FIFA to stage an inter-academy football tournament before the end of year 2009, hinting that the competition is meant to develop grassroots football as well as help the academies to organise themselves in terms management and finance.

Ceesay warned that all football academies must register with the Gambia Football Association and Attorney General's Chambers and also their own constitution. This, he said, will not only ensure good management system, but will also help protect the good talents of the academies that often fall prey to national league clubs. This year's competition, which will feature both the U-13 and U-15 categories will, according to Mr Ceesay, be played in a knock-out format, adding that the tourney will be a better one come next year when the teams will play in a league format.