GFF inaugurates interim committees’ regional football

GFF Normalisation Committee Chairman

The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) formally GFA under the Normalisation Committee who’s term ends next month, is pleased to inform the general public that as part of its process leading to the election of new executives in June, it has recently inaugurated interim committees to assist in the process of establishing regional football associations.

The inauguration, according to a media dispatch from the Football Federation, was held at the GFF Football House in Kanifing on Wednesday 1st May, 2013. This is one step towards the June election of a new executive as contained in the adopted constitution of the GFF. “The Committee is set up for an interim period of one month to build up a framework for the creation of regional football associations and to elect regional executive members in preparation for the elections on June 29th,” it added. 

The release further stated that, the Normalisation Committee stressed that regional interim committee members are not eligible for any elective positions neither at regional nor in the national elections in June. 

The general public is further informed that the GFF is preparing to put in the process and procedures to organise elections in June. The process involves rules and procedures recognised by FIFA which will stipulate the regulations of any elective congress as clearly outlined in the electoral code. 

“The Normalisation Committee stresses that, like in any other situation, those interested in running for office should meet certain requirements which will be scrutinised and that those who do not fulfill the requirements would be excluded. There would be benchmark for aspirants who can qualify to the various positions and that would be made public at the appropriate time.

“The Normalisation Committee takes this opportunity to thank the general public for their cooperation and support and further solicits their continuous collaboration and understanding towards the election in June when new office bearers would assume duties,” the release added.

Meanwhile, in another development coming from the football house in Kanifing has it that, a selection of Gambia U-19 players left for Italy to take part in the annual Umbria football tourney. A total of twenty players and five officials departed Banjul on Sunday 5th May, 2013 via Dakar where they will be joined by their counterparts from seven other countries, including the hosts for the one-week tournament.

It would be recalled that The Gambia were invited to the Umbria tournament in 2012 as part of the technical co-operation between Italy and the Gambia Football Federation through the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

 At the time of going to press on Tuesday, The Gambia was playing in their first game of the tournament against San Marino in Group A. They will also take on Slovenia the following day Wednesday 8th May. They will wrap-up their group campaign on Thursday evening. The team and officials are expected to return to Banjul next week.