The Gambia has taken a major step towards establishing minifootball as an organised sporting discipline following the election of an interim executive committee to run the sport.
Following an engagement with stakeholders and minifootball enthusiasts, Sadibou Kamaso was elected president of the association, and him and his committee would serve for an initial period of one year, during which it will be responsible for managing the association and putting in place the structures necessary for the sustainable development of minifootball across The Gambia.
The interim committee will put in place an Electoral and Vetting Committee to oversee the electoral process and procedures for the election of a full-fledged new Executive Committee in one year./
The new leadership will also have an immediate international assignment on its hands, with the association mandated to establish a Gambian national minifootball team to represent the country at the African Minifootball Championship in January 2027.
Kamaso will be supported by Dodou John (Bami) as First Vice President and Emad Trad as Second Vice President.
The regional structure of the association will be represented by Andreh Jarju, President of the Banjul Regional Association; Aja Kaddy Jaiteh, KM Regional Association; and Omar Jassey, West Coast Regional Association.
Meanwhile, Essa Jatta and Hon. Pa Malick Ceesay have been co-opted members while Essa Joof, Jarra Sanneh and Police Commissioner Ansumana Kinteh are ordinary members .
The association said it intends to work closely with sports institutions, players, coaches, clubs, officials and supporters to promote and develop minifootball across the country.
With preparations for the 2027 African Championship already on the horizon, the new executive is expected to focus on building the necessary structures, identifying talent and laying the foundation for a competitive national team.