The Gambian leader, Sheikh Professor Dr Alhaji Yahya Jammeh, yesterday received at State House, the delegates of the FIFA World Cup trophy.

The visit of the team, which was led by the minister of Interior, Ousman Sonko, who doubles as the second vice chairman of the Local Organizing Committee of the trophy tour, was meant to officially present the visiting World Cup trophy to the Gambian leader before it is finally presented to the Gambian public at open-viewing session. Receiving the guests, which also included the chief of the Gambia Football Association, Seedy Kinteh, President Jammeh thanked FIFA president, Joseph S Blatter, through the delegates, for bringing the cup to The Gambia. According to the Gambian leader, he and other 1.5 million Gambians have never dreamt of seeing the World Cup trophy, but added that thanks to FIFA and Coca Cola, the most prestigious football prize has arrived in the country for a three-day visit.

Aware of the security concern FIFA attaches to the pure gold trophy, President Jammeh assured the tour delegates that the trophy is very safe in the country that is known for its great hospitality towards visitors. President Jammeh, whose personal support has seen The Gambia made a name on international football arena most recently, also used the gathering to remind FIFA officials that one of his government's main objectives is to ensure that The Gambia win the World Cup trophy in not too far in the future.

"I know the trophy is only here for a visit this time around. But come next time it will be here as our winning cup," said the Gambian leader who believed that the trophy's visit to Banjul will only give more zeal to Gambian youngsters to excel in football. Speaking earlier, the vice president and minister of Women's Affairs, Dr Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy, expressed her gratitude to FIFA and other stakeholders for making it possible for not only the qualified nations to host the trophy but also the grassroots.

Vice president Njie-Saidy also hailed the world football's governing body for its effort in developing sports infrastructure in The Gambia and the continent as a whole making it feasible for South Africa to be handed the hosting right of the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals. According Gambia's second most important personality, the South Africa finals, which will also be the first World Cup tournament on African soil, will be the most successful tournament in the history of the World Cup.

The vice president also recognized the important role the Gambian leader continues to play in the development of sports, particularly football in the country, adding that the recent successes achieved by the Gambian teams on international football arena were lucid testimony of His Excellency's personal, moral and more importantly financial support to sports promotion. For his part, the minister of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, Mr Antouman Saho, said the visit of the World Cup trophy to Banjul is a tribute to President Jammeh's unflinching effort in promoting the game he described as the world's most popular trade.

Reacting to president Jammeh's gesture, the media officer for the trophy tour, Emmanuel Maradas, thanked the Gambian leader for receiving them despite his busy schedules. Maradas used the occasion to present to the Gambian leader, a special souvenir, from the world football chief, Joseph S Blatter, as a token of appreciation for His Excellency's tireless support for the game. Other speakers at yesterday's gathering included the minister of Local Government and Lands, Ismaila Sambou, minister of Trade, Industry and Employment, Yusupha Kah and minister of Interior, Ousman Sonko, who joined the delegates to thank President Jammeh for his keen interest in the tour.