GVO to sent Marathon Duo Greater Manchester Marathon

Hoja Secka

The Gambia Volunteers Organisation (GVO) will sent Marathon duo Hoja Secka who also doubles as Gambia’s long distance female runner, to participate in the popular Greater Marathon which will take place on the 26th of May this year. The first Manchester Marathon took place in 1908. It resumed in 2012 after a 10-year absence and has re-established itself as a popular race.

Secka a product of Gambia Armed Forces, who participated in the last Bradford Marathon in the United Kingdom in November 2012 will be returning to Great Britain next month for the event. Her participation in the Manchester Marathon is facilitated by The Gambia Volunteers Organisation, a non-profit making organisation established in 2009 by Roy Sanyang, a Gambian based in the UK.
 Hoja Secka, who recently won bronze at Bradford, said she felt honoured and great to be selected by The Gambia Volunteers Organisation to take part in the marathon, and thanked the Organisation for selecting her. She also thanked the Gambia Armed Forces for the continuous support given to her.  "I just hope that there will be a better weather condition this time around as it was very cold during my last marathon in the UK," she said.

Modou Lamin Jatta, head coach of the Gambia Armed Forces Athletic team, added: "I feel proud and believe her selection was not a surprise because she did perform well during the last marathon. Based on her performance, it was deemed fitting by The Gambia Volunteers Organisation to select and register her for the 'Bupa Greater Manchester Marathon', which is bigger than the Bradford Marathon.

"Preparations are in high gear and she is fully ready for the marathon. The Gambia Armed Forces authority and everybody received the news with delight, but then it did not come as a surprise to them because of the medal she won in the last marathon." 

Mbacke Njie, the Secretary General of The Gambia Volunteers Organisation said they chose Horja Secka because of her performance in the previous Marathon she attended in UK. "We feel so great and happy to register her to participate in this marathon and we hope she will give a respectable performance and will come back home with a medal," she told reporters.

She also disclosed that her Organisation is currently in contact with Gambia Bird Airlines to provide the ticket.