Government spends over 22 million in just the last home match

Gambia’s Youth and Sports Minister Bakary Y. Badjie. Photo credit: Adu Boy Photography

By Sally Jeng

Gambia’s minister of the youth and sports Bakary Badjie said the government have spent 56 million dalasis in the senior national team’s last three engagements, 22million against Angola, 23 against Gabon both were played at home and 11million in Portugal camping.

The minister was responding to criticism of government’s scant allocation for youth and sports matters in the national budget, after the Scorpions secured its first ever Africa Cup of Nations Qualification schedule to take place in Cameroon early 2022.

“People look at the budget and see 6million for sports development and they think that’s all no, there are so many things under budget that people don’t see, and football has been getting all the resources they needed in recent times there is no budget that came for the GFF that the government cuts.” Minister Badjie said

GFF President Lamin Kabba Bajo. Photo courtesy of Adu Boy Photography

Although the president of The Gambia Football Federation Lamin Kaba Bajo said they appreciate the support they have been receiving from the government he added it is not enough and more is expected.

“I think the federation should still shoulder the bulk of the responsibilities financially and logistical and everything else, while appreciating the contributions of the government but is still not enough what they are doing now is complimenting what GFF is doing while we want it to be the other way round when the GFF will compliment what government does.” He spoke.

The would-be first timers in the continental showpiece secured qualification after beating Angola with a lone goal at home and emerged top of ground D ahead of Gabon and left Angola & Democratic Republic of Congo unqualified for the tournament.