The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and General Secretary of the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) Lamin M. Jassey has told GFF media that the country’s domestic league is getting more attractive and that people should expect further investment.
Jassey’s remarks come on the heels of recent happenings as four clubs—three men clubs and a female club—have recently changed ownership ahead of the beginning of the new season. He described the recent developments as a testament of the remarkable strides made in Gambian football under the leadership of GFF President Lamin Kaba Bajo.
“There is a complete paradigm shift in the way that our domestic league and football in general is observed now. In fact, all these developments are exceptional for our game but more so the one of Unique Global FC; it is the first private sector led purchase of a league club in The Gambia and we expect that to be a gamechanger,” he told the GFF Media.
“The domestic league is gaining more and more momentum now and this is having a direct effect on our National Teams. When you look at the progress of the U-20 team in the last few years and the senior national team too, the overwhelming majority of the players there started their careers in the Gambian league. Also our league is now broadcast to a global audience through partnership with FIFA under the Eleven Sports platform.”
GFF media stated that the concerned clubs are Gamtel, PSV Wellingara (both relegated from the top flight and will play second tier football this season) and Medical Football Club, while Abuko United, third from bottom in last season’s women’s first division league, have also changed ownership.
“Gamtel is bought by Senegalese football agent, now turned administrator, Yusupha Fall and has changed the Club’s name to Serrekunda Football Club. Medical, a team from Bansang in the Central River Region has been bought by Kemo Ceesay and his Dutch partner Ari Terrefers and since renamed as Gambian Dutch Lions,” GFF media stated.
“Elsewhere, a consortium led by Papa Yusupha Njie, the founder of Unique Group and Saul Frazer the proprietor of Global Properties, have also completed the full takeover of PSV Wellingara Football Club. The new owners have since renamed it to Unique Global Football Club. Omar Saidykhan, the owner of TMT Football Club has purchased Abuko United and renamed it TMT Women’s FC.”
