Members of the Janjangbureh Development Association Banjul Branch, Monday presented certificates to individuals who supported the Association in the development of grassroots football in the Central River Region island town of Janjanbureh.

The ceremony, which was presided over by the vice president and minister of Women’s Affairs, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, the chief patroness of the town’s annual football tournament, also witnessed a symbolic presentation of a cash amount of D12,000 for this year’s football tourney.

OB Conateh, the chairman of the GFA Normalisation Committee also pledged to donate 10 footballs to the organisers of the village Nawettan tournament. The Janjanbureh Annual Nawettan is organised in memory of an illustrious son of the town, the late Jaye Saidy, who was also the husband of the vice president.

Speaking at the ceremony, Sainey Camara, the chairman of the Janjanbureh Development Association commended the vice president for her constant contribution to the successful staging of the village Nawettan tournament. He expounded on the numerous achievements registered by the annual tournament, adding that it started with four teams, but now has over 12 participating teams. He also hailed the efforts of all those who supported the event in one way or the other, especially the Prom family.

Ousman Jobarteh and Sakou Fatty, both elders of the village commended the vice president for her support for sports development in Janjanbureh. They also urged everyone to support development efforts in the area.

Africa Women Sports Reporters Union

In a similar engagement, VP Njie-Saidy Monday also received members of the African Women Sports Reporters Union, Gambia Chapter at her office. The female reporters were at State House to brief the vice president about their Union’s aims and objectives as well as to demonstrate their commitment to the development of Gambian sports.

Rohey Bittaye, the president of the Union explained that their main aim is to increase the participation of women in sports. She said the Gambia chapter is committed to promoting sports reporting in the country and is also a chapter of the Gambia Sports Journalists Association. She also called on female reporters to join the union.

Fatou Saho, the secretary general of the Union said they formed the Gambia chapter as a response to a request by officials of the continental Union, and taking into account that other African countries have launched their own local chapters. She expressed optimism that they will continue to promote Gambian sports to the highest level. She also disclosed series of trainings organised for members, which are all geared towards arming them with skills.

Alieu K Jammeh, the minister of Youth and Sports hailed the efforts of the Janjanbureh Development Association Banjul for their foresight in promoting grassroots football. He also commended the elders of Janjangbureh for their continuous support to the young people of the village, stressing that the annual tournament, which is in its fourth year, has registered tremendous achievements thanks to the constant support of the vice president.

He said that inline with his Ministry’s new policy of diversifying sports in the country, there is need for the committee of the village to venture into other sporting disciplines. He challenged them to set up the late Jaye Saidy Memorial Foundation in the near future and also ensure sustainability of the annual tournament for the development of grassroots sports in the area.

To the female reporters, Minister Jammeh said: “I am very much inspired having listened to the young female reporters and the talent that they have exposed here. I just want to encourage you, though it may not be easy to continue working hard.” He also commended them for their support to the U17 female football team.

For her part, VP Njie-Saidy emphasised the importance of sports in any country while making reference to the Gambian leader’s quest for the development of mass sports in the country. She also saluted the female reporters for their proactive stance in promoting Gambian football.

She commended the members of the Janjangbureh Development Association for their proactive stance towards promoting the memorial tournament and promised to continue doing whatever she can for the development of the village tourney.

VP Njie-Saidy equally hailed all the stakeholders who contributed in one way or the other to the development of the memorial tourney and prayed that God continues to reward them abundantly.