The Gambia Deaf Sports Association is soliciting financial support in a bid for the Deaf Scorpions to participate in the forthcoming World Deaf Football Championship to be held in Malaysia. The event starts on September 23 to October 7 2023.
Deaf Scorpions, who were the defending champions of the West Africa Deaf Football Championship, couldn’t partake in the 11th edition of the aforesaid competition held in Ivory Coast on 17th of August 2023 due to financial constraint.
The team engaged stakeholders for help to meet their D2.8 million budget to no avail.
The National Sports Council (NSC) in particular, in a letter circulated online, expressed the government’s realisation of the importance of the team’s participation in the Ivory Coast tournament.
“As a result, it [NSC] explored means of funding your participation in the said competition. However, due to our financial situation, it cannot support this request,” the Council said.
The association wasn’t pleased with the sports council’s response and has since said their team deserves better.
Attention shifted to World Championship
After their failure to partake in the Ivory Coast competition, the Deaf Scorpions have shifted their attention to the 4th edition of the World Deaf Football Championship with a bigger budget outlay compared to the D2.8 million they earmarked for the Ivory Coast event.
The association has budgeted little over six million dalasis to ensure their participation in the abovementioned world championship. Below is the budget outlay:
The association has been informed by the World Deaf Football Championship Originating Committee (OC) that they will provide free transportation service from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to the hotel (vice versa) for those who make their hotel reservation through the OC.
Additionally, the Gambian delegate will only be allowed to enter the competition if they make their booking through the OC, which is yet to be done barely 16 days before the tournament starts.
The association is thus calling on all and sundry to come to their aid so that the deaf scorpions can participate at the world tournament later this month.
Lamin Ceesay, President of Gambia Deaf Sports Association, had called on stakeholders, Gambia government, private sectors, Gambian international footballers, and President Adama Barrow in particular to support them.
For any financial support, contact President Lamin Ceesay on 77 28 0 92.
