By: Mariama Njie
KitAid in The Gambia on Monday presents jerseys and Captain Bands to eight football clubs, high schools and organization in The Gambia.
The beneficiary teams are Kanifing East Football Club, Empty Land Football Club, Daddy Jobe School, West African International School, Greater Banjul, Juffureh Youth Development and Foni Bintang.
KitAid was registered as a charity organization based in England. Among their activities is to collect recycle materials such as football kits and other sports equipment and give to deserving countries around the World with the support of reliable partners.
George Gomez, Director of KitAid in Gambia and Senegal said: “Kids Aid has been in The Gambia for the past five years, and has covered almost 50 to 100 schools across the country, and similar number of clubs such as Nawettan clubs, regional clubs and academic clubs.”
He noted that KitAid do not only do presentations directly to schools but also donate to those that applied. He added that they use other groups or organizations to supply to areas where they are unable to reach.
As part of their recent presentations, the Ministry of Education was given 14 boxes of jersey so that schools in the provinces will also be supplied.
However, Mr Gomez said they want to use KitAid to develop grassroots football, adding that “we are not only having football kids, we also have cricket kids, and when we have things like that we concentrate on the schools.”
Lamin Cham, Media Officer of KitAid, disclosed that KitAid has been sending sport equipment to clubs or national football federations around the world to underdeveloped countries who have football teams but not privilege to have modern football materials.
Beatrice A. Mboge, CEO of Gambia Women Chamber of Commerce, said sport is business; therefore youths should take it with passion. While encouraged that women should look at sport as a means of development.
