As part of its on-going implementation of the 2016 Fifa forward prorgamme projects, the Gambia Football Federation, GFF, on Monday conducted a meeting at Football House between ground owners, contractors and the GFF Project Committee.
A senior official at Football House said the meeting was important, as it will formally introduce the three parties to each one another so that the communities will get to know about the projects in their area as well as allowing each side to understand the role of the other.
The implementation of the 2016 forward programme actually started since with the capacity building activities and now rehabilitation will be conducted in Banjul, Bakau, Brikama, Manjai, Serekunda East and Serekunda West football stadiums. The works include perimeter fencing, renovation of dressing rooms, grass pitch and boreholes.
According to the GFF three contractors, City Properties, Ngary Njie Construction and Peace Enterprise won an open bid in accordance with the laid down conditions for the successful implementation of the project at he six grounds.
Meanwhile The Standard also sought clarification on a brewing controversy among stakeholders about the choice of Busumbala among beneficiaries of the 2018 project.
Last week, the GFF revealed that Serekunda Central, Busumbala and Gunjur will benefit from the project that will create new football fields at those centers.
Some stakeholders in the West Coast criticised the choice of Busumbala which is not even a recognized football zone and has little history in football compared to Sukuta or Brufut, for example.
However a senior GFF official said the three places were selected from a need assessment exercise conducted by an independent competent committee assigned to identify most needy and suitable grounds. “Busumbala for example has a 200, 200 piece of land and its the place chosen for Kombo South for West Coast whereas Gunjur was chosen from Kmbo South. The decision was not made by through any undue influence by GFF insiders as it has been alleged,” said a source at Football House.
Our source revealed that all the regions in the country will sooner or later benefit from facilities under the project including one targeted for Foni, in the West Coast, Kiang in LRR, and other places in all the regions to be identified by the regional football associations there.
It is important of course to high light that the funds for these projects are not monies that are automatically packed from Fifa and delivered to Football House by DHL. No, first a project proposal is presented and sent to Fifa who must check and subject it to a rigorous process to ensure that they meet the requirements and sometimes this can include inspection trips to satisfy themselves before funds are released, a GFF official explained yesterday.
The FIFA Forward prograemme which replaced the erstwhile Fifa subvention is conceived by Fifa as a way of sharing the success of the FIFA World Cup with its member associations.It is built on three principles more investment, more impact and more oversight to provide 360 degree, tailor-made support for football development in each of its member associations and the six confederations:
The programme increases financial support for member associations and football development to 5 million USD per four-year cycle.
This means each association has access to 750,000 US dollars per year for football projects such as pitches, competitions and women’s football.
And every association also receives up to 500,000 US dollars per year for running costs in areas including administration and governance.
Fifa also provides extra help to member associations that need it, from football equipment and internship programmes to up to 1 million US dollars to cover travel costs so that women and youth teams can compete in international competitions.
