The artificial turf at the Gambia Football Association (GFA) Technical Training Centre in Yundum will soon be completed and handed over to the authorities, Observer Sports was reliably informed.

The construction of the artificial turf, which started last August is partly funded by world football’s governing body FIFA, with the GFA contributing the remaining quarter. The turf is part of FIFA’s support towards the development of football in the country and its fourth phase of the Goal Project.

Speaking to this reporter, the director of the Technical Centre Bakary Tenema Dahaba explained the benefits the artificial turf will provide to theCentre. He said: “The artificial turf will benefit us in a sense that it will provide us with the opportunity to groom players that are to be stationed here at the Centre and we won’t have problems with the national teams as we would use the field and camp here as well.”

On the criticisms the Centre has drawn as some argue that it is non- functional, Dahaba noted: “What I can say is the place is functioning. The problem was that the job done here was bad. The U17 teams of 2005 and 2007 used to camp here. The conditions here were sub-standard depriving us from using it effectively, but notwithstanding we accommodate people here from the provinces that come for national functions and we conduct conferences like the conference jointly organised with FIFA.”

Dahaba also used the opportunity to thank the government and the president of The Gambia who gave out the land for the Centre. He further thanked the president for providing the enabling environment and motivation. He also promised to make sure that towards the end of the year the Centre will undergo great changes.

The work at the Centre is nearing completion with laying down of the turf currently taking place and the man overseeing the finishing touches of the job, one Mustapha from the Netherlands stated that the turf can serve for more than a decade if it is properly maintained.