By Abdou Mbye
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) and the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) on Friday, 30th August signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on enhancing football among school children across the country. The ceremony took place at MoBSE in Banjul.
This MoU aims to establish clear guidelines on how both parties will work together to provide training courses for Physical Education (PE) teachers, coaches, managers, safeguarding officers, and sports administrators. The ultimate goal is to develop football at the grassroots level within schools.
During the signing ceremony, Mr. Louis Moses Mendy, the Permanent Secretary at MoBSE, emphasised the significance of this partnership. He noted that nurturing young talent is fundamental to the development of sports. “History has shown that one of the cornerstones of the sports fraternity is to catch them young,” he added.
Mr. Mendy acknowledged the GFF’s strong support and commitment to school sports in The Gambia, commending the federation and its president, Lamin Kaba Bajo, for their continued guidance.
“Sports is very useful. If you look at the Education Act, there was no mistake in combining the ministries of education, sports, and culture. The relationship between sports and education is vital as sports enhance psychological, physical, and mental well-being.” He stressed the importance of integrating sports into the education curriculum, noting that it is a critical investment that should begin at the grassroots level.
Mr. Adama Jimba Jobe, the Deputy Permanent Secretary (DPS) Programmes, also spoke at the event. He underscored the importance of schools in identifying and nurturing young talent, urging everyone to support this initiative for the benefit of the children and the nation. “We all need to come together so that sports can be developed and children can have the opportunity to showcase their talents and be part of the global community,” he said, thanking the GFF for their willingness to collaborate on this endeavour.
In his remarks, GFF President Lamin Kaba Bajo expressed his gratitude to the MoBSE management for their long-standing collaboration. He acknowledged the impact MoBSE has had on the success of football from the youth level to the national level. Mr. Bajo assured MoBSE of the GFF’s commitment to strengthening and expanding this relationship, expressing hope for the successful implementation of the MoU.
This partnership is expected to provide a significant boost to the development of football in schools across The Gambia, offering young talents the platform to grow and excel in the sports.
