By Binta Jaiteh
The Minister of Youth and Sports Bakary Badjie has informed parliament’s Select Committee on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Youth and Sports that government has plans to build a new stadium.Sports Minister and team Tuesday appeared before the committee to give an update on the status of the rehabilitation of the national stadium and other related sporting activities.He told the committee that land had been identified in Laminalready and the engagement has started. “The issue is how to raise the one hundred and fifty million dollars to build the new stadium,” he said.
Giving update on the status of the stadium Minister Badjie stated that, CAF was invited to come and inspect the stadium but based on the advice given by CAF the ministry was asked to cover other areas that were not initially intended for the first phase in order to be able to get the pass.
According to him, the ministry started looking for funding, but unfortunately the funding aspect was delayed. “As we all know that it was not included in national budget for 2023 neither was it in the 2024 budget. The Ministry was constrained in terms of ability to deliver as expected by all Gambians,” he stated.
The first phase is the pitch which was a major thing because CAF required that we change the grass to a more modern grass.
“We all know that, this stadium was handed over to government in 1984, built from 1982 to 1984 and upon completion in 1984 the structures remained there until last year,” he asserted.
He explained that football has evolved over the years and decades a lot has changed on what was required in 80s and 90s. There are two changing rooms local and international. The international dressing room is meant for international matches only and the local is meant for domestic matches.
“The second phase started last Monday but unfortunately we couldn’t get the funds on time. It went through normal process of procurement but because there were two companies identified to do the job GIGO construction and CFTM in collaboration with integral company of Turkey.”
He stressed that the stadium would have been finished if the budget was included in the national budget. But according to him, it is sad that the ministry’s submitted budget is removed from the national budget.
However, he said the idea that CAF rejected the stadium was not accurate.
Allagie S Darboe, member of the committee told the Minister that citizens needed a new stadium in order to also host International matches.
“We definitely need a new stadium because we cannot keep on playing outside due to the structure of our stadium,” he argued.
Darboe said the Independence Stadium has been a concern as far as football is concerned, adding that government should prioritize the sport.
He tasked the government to act immediately and make sure that a new stadium is built adding that Gambia will not develop in sports in the absence of infrastructure.
“I think the will and commitment is not from government as this assembly will support any development agenda,” he assured.
