By Sulayman Bah
Chairman Bori Darboe says Sports Council’s investigation of Lamin Kabba Bajo’s leadership at the Gambia Football Federation is not a witch-hunt.
Sports Council last week issued a dispatch revealing plans to investigate the current Football House leadership over torrents of complaints they said, they’ve received.
In a one-page release, the council said the GFF will be probed on charges of fraud, match-fixing, constitutional violations in the Regional Football Associations recent congresses as well as complaints from football clubs.
NSC’s announcement sparked claims of a witch-hunt by the government body amid fears of another looming international suspension from FIFA giving the Luzern-based institution’s uncompromising stance on government’s interference in the running of football.
‘All football stakeholders, partners and the General public are reminded to take necessary precautions when dealing with the Gambia Football Federation from henceforth until further notices,’ a portion of the release from the council read.
However, Bori, a member of the former Gff reign succeeded by Kabba Bajo, denies carrying out vendetta through the setting up of a panel to investigate the federation.
‘It’s good to clear the air. How is it a witch-hunt? This is not Bori Darboe as a person it’s the council here, let’s be fair. The council is set up by an act of parliament to regulate our sports. We’ve received lot of complaints against them (GFF). What’s scores? There is no score here. We also want the problems solved,’ he tells Foroyaa Sport over the weekend.
On who will comprise the investigating panel, Darboe said: ‘Independent people who are experts will be the ones to handle this.’
Sought for his reaction, GFF’s president Kabba Bajo divulged that consultation is being made on the issue and his team will release a ‘fitting’ dispatch later.
Below we reproduce the council’s press statement verbatim.
Following the meeting of the National Sports Council Members held on the 28th October 2017at the Board Room of the independence stadium, the Council considered the under mentioned football issues during the meeting.
- GFF Response Letter to the NSC alleging and reporting the government of the Republic of the Gambia to FIFA and CAF for lack of transparency in the mobilization, handling, disbursement of funds for the national teams’ activities’.
- Alleged Financial Fraud against Gambia Football Federation during the Stakeholders Press Conference.
- Regional Football Association Presidents Press Conference on the alleged constitutional violations on the Regional Football Associations 2017 Elective Congresses.
- The Gambia Football Federation President Press Conference in response to the allegations.
- Football Match fixing allegations against Gambia Football Federation.
- Petitions by some Football Clubs against the GFF and other irregularities within GFF.
In the wake up of the above, the Council, on the 2nd November 2017 has sent a notice of investigation to the Gambia Football Federation following the allegations.
The NSC wish to inform all sports stakeholders and the Gambia football federation members that an investigation is sanctioned into the above allegations.
The NSC wishes to assure all stakeholders, GFF Members, Partners and the general public that a thorough and fair investigation will be conducted by a team of experts in these areas.
We hope the investigation will provide the necessary answers and resolutions in the allegations, thus it will also help to mitigate our football challenges.
All football stakeholders, partners and the General public are reminded to take necessary precautions when dealing with the Gambia Football Federation from henceforth until further notices.
The NSC under the Ministry of Youth and Sports wishes to reaffirm its commitment to sports development sphere that is globally accepted under the new government and therefore the NSC will work tirelessly to attain government’s youth development agenda in the areas of sports in the new Gambia.
