By Sulayman Bah
Sang Marie Sambou has emerged as Gambia’s first basketball referees’ instructor accredited by the International
Basketball Federation (FIBA).
Sambou attained the feat having undergone International Referees instructor and refresher Clinic in the Tunis April this year, a course financed by the country’s Olympic House.
Result of Sambou’s performance were made public last week in which he’s said to have scored good grades.
The certified referee courted praises from GNOC’s Abdoulie Jallow at his unveiling at the Olympic Bureau Monday.
Explaining the modalities, Jallow said, the results of the three-day programme were sent to the FIBA office for scrutiny and released September 2nd with Sambou scoring ‘ an excellent result’.
Muhammadou Papa Njie Gambia Basketball Association top dog said Sambou’s accreditation will fuel increase of basketball referees in the country.
Commenting, Sambou who described the FIBA course as ‘challenging’ said securing the accreditation is one thing but keeping it is much of a bigger task which hinges on performance at national level.
“ With the support of GBA I need to come up with referees’ training programme and conduct training for local referees and report back to FIBA and based on those programmes and reports I will be evaluated and assigned to conduct training in other parts of Africa,” he said.
GNOC’s Beatrice Allen revealed that National Olympic Committees do not run associations but are like funding agents to help sporting associations in their development drives.
While urging sporting associations to initiate plans for their members’ capacity building Ms Beatrice urged associations to tap young talents from schools for sustainability.]]>
