The association of early childhood education and early childcare unit of the ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has donated D12, 000.00 to the Gambia U-17 team in a presentation ceremony held at the Basic & Secondary Education ministry on Thursday.

The sum, which was a contribution from nursery school teachers and pupils, is the association's contribution towards the team as they prepare to represent the country in the FIFA U-17 World Cup starting on October 24, in Nigeria. The president of the association, Mr Babou Gaye-Sonko, said the nursery school body was formed with the main aim of complimenting government's efforts in education sector as well as identifying good talents.

The National U-17 players, Gaye-Sonko said, have passed through the nursery stages before becoming national heroes - a development that makes them proud. He said the amount from his association might be small, but hinted the team's financial burden will be ease if all Gambians do as the kids did.

Mr Gaye Sonko, who is also a nominated councillor at Kanifing Municipal Council outlined that they have plans to organised an inter-nursery school sports competition that will feature various sporting disciplines including football and athletics. For his part, the permanent secretary at the ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Baboucarr Boye, said he valued every single butut donated by the nursery school pupils, hinting that a dalasi from the nursery interns should be valued more than a thousand dalasis from the adults. Mr Boye urged all Gambians to emulate the nursery school association in a bid to ensure Baby Scorpions' successful participation in Nigeria event.