Two thirds majority of Delegates adoptes GFA amended constutition

Chairman of GFA Normalisation Committe: Alagie O.B Conateh

Football representatives from across the country on Saturday converge at the Independence Stadium’s Friendship Hostel Hall in Bakau to adopt the new GFA amended constitution which was review by a constitutional review committee. After spending hours of in-house discussion between the football representatives and the GFA normalization committee, the constitution was final adopted by two third majority of the delegates with the constitution of adding and disapproving some section of the new document which was presented by the committee.

The final outcome of the Saturday’s GFA constitutional adoption congress will be sent to the world football governing body FIFA with the adjustments demanded by the regional and club representatives  and the disapproved sections  for a scrutinize. If rejected by FIFA means that the country football will plunge into another limbo and be ready to take any other consequences that may follow next.

Speaking earlier, the vice chairman and the spoke person of the GFA normalization committee Alhagie Omar Sey says the process has took a long time to reach this stage today, and added that the process will still continue even after the next congress. “ In this process we have done a lot of consultations from all those should be consulted. The FIFA delegate Primo Carvelo has come to The Gambia for the third time today for this constutional valdiation process”.

He use the opportunity to held the FIFA delegate Primo for coming, and assured to him that after the adoption of this constitution, Gambia football Association will relied on FIFA to help the country’s football body.

For the Minister of Youth and Sports Mr. Sey continued “i want extend the appreciation of GFA normalization committee for his support to the FA since the inspection of normalized body to date. My chairman also held the you for the respect he show to us during this period”.

Mr. Primo Carvelo FIFA representative in the Constitutional adoption congress reviled that FIFA has started reviewing process of all football associations affiliated with FIFA since in 2005. He added that “The Gambia is in the advance of what FIFA is currently doing. Gambia is not the only country doing this process, other countries like Sierra Leone, Namibia and Sudan to mention a few has already passed this stage. Whether Gambia adopt this constitution today or not they will one day adopt it because it is ongoing process which will soon reach Gambia too. Some of these associations were involved in corruption scandal and other issues”.

Primo Carvelo commended the efforts of the normalization committee for their tireless work since coming into office. While assured to the committee that FIFA will work and support Gambia as soon as the football body has a new team in place to work with. He described the process has a very challenging for the delegates after the reviewed and adoption, as some of them will not like to be deny from voting in the coming GFA congress hence the number of vote will be reduce from 204 voters to only 59 or 55 voters.

The Minister of Youth and Sports Alieu K. Jammeh said the president is ready to stand side with the doby responsible for running football affairs in The Gambia. He also use the opportunity to informed the FIFA delegate that president Jammeh has just recently rewarded the female national U-17 team for participating in the Azerbaijan world cup by giving a close to 3000 Euros to each player and a half some to their technical staff in addition with a 25 sitter bus.

The minister went on further to say that “Gambia will continue to pave headway in the football sector. I want to assured that the government under the leadership of president Jammeh will support the affairs of football in the country. In side this new constitution, there are lot a things embedded not for anything, but for the stakeholders where I belong to. The constitution is empowering the youths and and also give semi autonomy for every region to actively engage in football. I hope The Gambia through these august delegates will give way for a progress and not backwardness”.