Girls Football Festival Returns To Banjul

By Bakary Ceesay

The drive to promote and encourage Women and girls to play football and stay in the beautiful game is increasingly gaining momentum as the Gambia Football Federation continues on its active grassroots development agenda.

GFF through its German football partnership program on 22^nd  October brought together nearly one hundred and fifty girls from Six Lower Basic Schools in Banjul that converged at the King George the 5th (KG5) Mini Stadium at Half Die.

The festival returned to the capital city for the second time on the heels of a successful edition in 2018 that attracted the attention of both parents and the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MOBSE). Tuesday’s festival took the form of girls been reintroduced into basic football skills like shooting, passing, dribbling, ball control and other vital Techniques.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Gambia Football Federation (GFF) President Lamin Kaba Bajo congratulated the girls for been chosen by their respective schools to take part in the festival.

He reassured the girl of the Federation’s continues support to Women’s Football.  “I want to reassure Monica and the girls here that my Executive is very much particular about the development of Women’s Football. We will not relent in our efforts to develop football in the country and most particularly Women’s football” Mr Bajo noted.

 He advised the girls to play football while encouraging them to remain in the game hence its benefits.

“I encourage all of you to play football because with football there is a lot you can achieve. You can be professionals in the future and you can help yourself, your parents and your country”.

Program Coordinator Monica Staab said, she is delighted with the continues support from the Gambia Football Federation, particularly President Bajo.

“The GFF and President Bajo in particular have been very supportive to this program and because of the continuous, we are able to reached at this level”.

She also encouraged the girls to continue playing football while appealing to parents to allow their girls to play football.