By Lamin Cham
A sponsorship deal reached between Norway- Gambia, International Holding Company Norga was officially formalised and 
introduced to the Gambia Athletics Association and the National Sports Council at the Independence stadium recently.
The occasion also witnessed a presentation of training materials to Keita by Norga.
Speaking at the occasion, Norga’s CEO Ba Jabbi disclosed that his company has decided to adopt Tijan Keita, a national athlete, as its brand athlete.
‘Under the deal, Norga will provide Tijan with financial and material support as well as explore opportunities for high level training for him,’’ Jabbi said.
“This is our corporate responsibility and we think that after supporting different sports in the country, athletics too should be considered,” Jabbi tells the audience.
The President of the GAA Dodou Joof said Norga’s intervention is timely and their choice well made as Tijan Keita is a rising potential and a good prospect for medals for the Gambia at international games.
“He has already won the African cadet title in Warri, Nigeria and is clearly heading to become one of the greatest potential sprinters in the country,’’ Joof said.
He urged Norga to spread their intervention and assistance to national athletics teams of the Gambia so that more achievement could be made.
Marcel Mendy, the executive director of the National Sports Council thanked Norga for the wonderful gesture and urged Tijan Keita to prove worthy of the attention and good fortune. “It is now your turn to excel and prove that you are worthy of the support,” Mendy told the sprinter.
Lamin Cham, the media director of Norga, said if some of the millions that go into football are given to athletics, or other sports, the Gambia would surely have been counted among the greatest achievers in sports. The athlete himself, Tijan Keita promised he will do even more to better himself and thanked Norga for choosing him. The official introduction of the deal and presentation of materials was attended by senior officials of the NSC and coaches of the GAA. The Norway- Gambia International Holding Company Norga is a sports friendly company which has so far supported numerous sports events and bodies around the country and is currently sponsoring the construction of sports stadium in Brufut, where it funds a second division team Brufut United FC. It is the parent company of the former West African Lotto, WAL, among other businesses.
