Covid Pandemic continues to wreak havoc with Schools Athletics
By Ebrima KB Sonko
Mahad Senior Secondary School’s star sprinter, Awa Badjie has revealed to Gambia Sports that she is “disturbed” by the continuous lack of any athletics competitions by The Gambia Secondary School Athletics Association due to the coronavirus pandemic and the public gathering restrictions by the Government.
In a bid to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (covid-19), President Adama Barrow had declared that all public gatherings including Sports were suspended in March 2020. This declaration was at a time when schools and athletes were preparing for the Gambia Secondary Schools Athletics Association annual national championship.
The sports industry was affected by the pandemic and the government banning public gatherings including sports didn’t help school going athletes either. Even though the Gambia government have now eased the restrictions of public gatherings and sports, it has been two years of no Secondary School Athletic Championship.
Awa Badjie of Mahad decried the lack of activity. She said it has disturbed her athletics career.
“The inter-schools failed take place in the past two years due to the covid-19 pandemic which has to disturb me a lot.” Awa mourns.
“I was expecting last year to be my best year so far because I have been training for months but unfortunately, information comes from the Ministry of Sport that there will be no inter-school, and which has made me totally discouraged because it was my best year so far.”
Lamin Jammeh, a 100m and 200m specialist of the Mahad Senior Secondary expressed his dissatisfaction with training without any competition. “Over the past two years, I have been training without any competition. I spent so much money and time in training without any competition. All my training went in vain. I am disappointed that I couldn't showcase my talent.” Lamin Jammeh pondered.
Kaddy Mambureh a student of St Peter's Technical Junior and Senior Secondary who doubled as a national athlete for the Gambia also revealed her predicament to Gambia Sports. She bemoaned the lack of competition.
“Covid 19 really affected us the athletes especially the ones who were in Grade 12. Some of them graduated from senior school without completing due to covid 19. It affects me too because I am a national athlete, but it has been two years without any competition.” The St Peter's track queen said.
The Sports Coordinator for Region 2 of the Gambia Secondary Schools Athletics Association, Lamin Fadera told Gambia Sports that the Gambia Athletics Association (GAA) were not able to select junior athletes due to the absence of the Secondary School Athletic competition.
“COVID has a lot of impact on athletics in schools. The Gambia used to scout junior athletes from schools, but they were not able to do that in the past years due to the spread of COVID 19. The inter house and inter school athletics championships helps athletes to enhance their performance.”
He added: “Athletes normally travel to Senegal and other African countries for competitions. At least a group of athletes used to travel abroad to represent The Gambia in athletics competitions, but none of that could happen this year because of the pandemic.”
This story was produced with support from Journalists for Human Rights (JHR), through its Mobilizing Media in the Fight Against COVID-19 in partnership with Mai-Media and Gambia Sports