First Lady Madame Fatoumatta Bah- Barrow yesterday received the Gambia national women’s volleyball team at State House.
The visit was initiated by Goodwill Ambassador for Sport Tijan Jaiteh as the team prepares to travel to Dubai for a 17 –day training camp.
The players were accompanied to State House by officials and coaches.
Speaking at the meeting Coach Marie Wadda thanked Mr Tijan Jaiteh and his partners for arranging the trip to Dubai which she said would expose the players to better skills and career development opportunities. She also praised the First Lady for accepting to meet the team and to inspire them as she has done to many women groups in the country.
Ambassador Jaiteh thanked the First Lady for the meeting and briefed her about the work of his foundation, which focuses on developing Gambian sports in general.
Mr Jaiteh assured the First Lady of his readiness to work even harder for the development of sports adding that the trip to Dubai is supported by his Italian partners in collaboration with the ministries of sport of Dubai and The Gambia.
Assisting the First Lady in receiving the delegation, Presidential Adviser Henry Gomez advised the girls to work hard and be united in representing The Gambia assuring them that there is more to come from Ambassador Jaiteh with whom he is closely in touch on sport development.
Addressing the delegation, the First Lady advised the players to be committed to their sport and play with passion and dedication. She encouraged the girls to remain committed promising them support toward their success all in fields including education.
The team comprising 13 players and 6 officials are due to leave Banjul on Sunday for the Dubai camp, which runs until November 17. The meeting was attended by volleyball federation officials Pa Dodou Sarr. Alagie Ceesay and Marima Sowe all of whom commended Ambassador Jaiteh for his support and initiative especially in the development of women’s volleyball. Early this year Ambassador Jaiteh’s foundation secured a professional coach for Gambia’s women volleyball development.
