By Sulayman Bah
Ousted president of the Gambia Football Federation (GFF), 
Mustapha Kebbeh, has hinted of contesting in the forthcoming election of those to be entrusted with the management of national football which is slated for September.
Kebbeh’s tenure at the helm of the Gambia Football Federation was ended by FIFA, the world’s governing football body, who replaced it with a five-member normalizing committee.
In invoking its exceptional power to dissolve the executive heading the federation, the Zurich-based world football governing entity cited mistrust and total lack of confidence of delegates towards the GFF.
However, the move was not applauded by all, as a group calling itself stakeholders comprising some affiliate members of the federation had written to the world football body urging it to rescind the decision.
Notwithstanding, Kebbeh, who until now has chose to remain tight-lipped, has broken his silence and hinted that he could throw his hat in the ring again when fresh elections are held after the normalization period.
Responding to a question as to what would be their reaction if the members of the removed executive are to be banned from contesting in future elections, Kebbeh told the reporters: “They (the Normalisation Committee) are credible people and I don’t think they will come up with a clause to ban us from contesting or extending our term. I don’t think they would play games. Let us go for a vote to determine if the confidence of (the) stakeholders is there or not.”
Also speaking, Buba Janneh, a member of the ex-executive, elaborating on what he said were the achievements they have registered prior to the dissolution, said the GFF during their tutelage has reduced the massive debt and paid staff salaries including their social security.
“We have commissioned an audit in a short period of time unlike Gambia for Gold who has not been audited for three years. We also put up a strategic document that sought to develop football across the country. We had also put in place for the first time in Gambian football history a human resource manual as well as build a sustainable institution over time,” Janneh said.]]>
