By Sulayman Bah
Track sensation Suwaibou Sanneh is at the centre of a furore 
after his gaffer Amadou Lamberts claimed the Gambia Athletics Association snubbed the athlete for Morocco.
According to Amadou Lambert, Suwaibou –who competed and hit the semis in the London 2012 Olympics Games – offered to represent Gambia at the 19th African Senior Championship in Marrakech, Morocco.
The 24-year-old, it is reported, sought public support through the Gotham Spark Athletic Club to ensure his participation in the North African nation by setting up a donation campaign.
Having realized the target fee, Suwaibou, in Amadou’s words, proposed to the GAA to cover his costs of food, lodging, transportation and approve his visa application as part of Gambia’s participating athletes’ contingent for the Morocco event, he was turned down.
Upon been told he risks being stranded should he insist on turning up, the Gotham Spark Athletic Club –whom the Gambian trains with –decided to block all links to the donation while promising to return the collected fund after Sanneh is allegedly shunned.
Informing of the cancellation of the donation campaign, Lambert wrote: “This news came following Suwaibou’s inquiry to the federation to clarify whether he’d be taken care of as far as food, lodging and transportation are concerned once in Marrakech. This is their national record holder answer was essentially don’t come otherwise you’ll be stranded. We may never know the whole truth behind why, but it does raise many questions….”
He continued, “All funds received by Gotham Spark Athletic Club for this campaign will be returned as quickly as possible. Please don’t forget about us. Hopefully by God’s grace, when we need your help in the next fund campaign you are able to be as generous. God bless all of our friends across the globe.”
Fervent efforts by Foroyaa Sport to get the views of the Gambia Athletics Association president DodouCapiJoof -who is understood to be in Morocco currently and is not expected back until on Friday – proved vain.
The GAA office is found closed when this publication visited on Monday and yesterday.GAA office has been emailed but are still yet to reply. An official very much in the heart of the association’s dealings andwho preferred not to be named confirmed being aware of the story but declined to comment when approached yesterday.
Meanwhile, the athletics association is yet to issue any release confirming Gambia’sparticipation in both the African Senior Championship which has already started and the IAAF Cup for Morocco.]]>
