A team drawn from football academies in The Gambia under the ageist of BK West United has been invited to take part in the world famous Allianz Cup tournament in the German city of Dessau.
The indoor football tournament, which features Under 11 boys, will be staged from January 27-28 and will attract a total of 24 teams from all over Europe with the Gambia being the only one from Africa. Academies of world acclaimed clubs like Bayern Munich, Tottenham,Hotspur, Chelsea among others, have all featured in this tournament and most are expected in this 24th edition too..
The organizers, Anhalt Sport e.v. will take care of the expenses of the Gambian team.
The package was arranged by Cherno Barry a Gambian Football Ambassador in Germany. Cherno said as a Gambian-German and GFF football ambassador he is every excited and keen to seek opportunities for Gambian footballers where possible. ”I have always worked to sell the image of Gambian football and give opportunities to Gambian footballers anytime and am very happy that young Gambians will play in the Allianz Cup, ” he told the parents of the selected players via phone from Germany
On Tuesday the coordinating committee led by Amadou Barry and comprising Gambia Football Federation women’s football coordinator Sainey Sissohore and Modou Lamin Barry, staged a sensitization meeting with the parents of the selected children all of whom gave their consent to the trip and expressed great excitement about it.
“We are very delighted with the unique opportunity for the exposure availed to our children through this programme, particularly because they are representing Gambia. I hope and pray that the children do well as we are confident in the entire process,” said Lamin Barrow one of the parents.
Amadou Barry of BK West United said the children were selected after a thorough scouting by a coach designated to spot the most talented ones from the academies and they will be accompanied by three adults as officials. ”We especially grateful to the Gambia Football Federation for their official blessing of the programme and the availability of their experts in the process, ” Amadou Barry said. Mr Barry disclosed that the rest of the Gambian team will be completed by Gambian-German under 11 players already in Germany.
