By Bakary B Baldeh Following the Fact Finding and Consultative nationwide tour embarked on by the Executive of the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) in November 2014, a line up of programmes were promised to the Regional Associations in the drive to achieve full autonomy as part of the new Football dispensation. In this light, the GFF Executive has recently directed the Gambia Football Coaches Association and Gambia Referees Committee to embark on Regional Training of Coaches and Referees to establish and implement the D’ Licence Coaching and Basic Training on the Laws of the Game which are pre-requisites to Football development. The two allied Associations kicked off their Regional scholarly tour on the 9th January, 2015 and are expected to conclude on Tuesday 21st January, 2015 at separate Regions. The Coaches Association led by its President Mr Pa Suwareh Faye, started the outreach programme in the North Bank Region across to the Upper River Region while the Referees Committee led by Chairman Alhagie Faye will conclude its first phase in the Central River Region (CRR) after beginning the tour at the Upper River Region. The second phase of the Referees training would be done later. The countrywide tour also embeds the GFF Technical Director Mr Ebrima Manneh and GFF Referees Manager Alh Adama Mbye. Other Resource persons include CAF Coaching Instructor Mr Lamin Sambou, National Teams Goal keeper trainer Alhagie Marong, Matarr Mboge amongst others while Abdoulie Sowe and Abdoulie Jallow form part of the team for the Referees trekking team. Other thematic areas during the tour includes theoretical and practical sessions on aspects of the game and to further help the Regions on how to form and administer their own Coaches and Referees Committees. The GFF ExCO takes this opportunity to once again thank the Regions for the reception and their active participation during the training and further solicits their support for further Regional outreach programmes ahead. ]]>
