Hon. Haddy Jatou Sey, Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE)
By Landing Ceesay
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) has issued a directive to the heads of both public and private educational institutions, mandating them to halt the participation of their students in the Gambia Football Federation’s (GFF) football trials until they receive authorization from the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary.
Alasa Sey, the Sports Desk Officer at MoBSE, conveyed this mandate through a letter on behalf of the Permanent Secretary. The letter calls for a nationwide cessation of student involvement in the GFF football trials.
The letter stated that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Basic Secondary Education has become aware that the Gambia Football Federation has been recruiting students across various age groups for scouting activities.
“It has come to the notice of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic Secondary Education, that the Gambia Football Federation is engaging students of different age categories for scouting purposes,” MoBSE’s statement read.
The Ministry has instructed all Regional Directors to enforce a new policy, requiring all school leaders to prevent students from joining any football trials organized by the Gambia Football Federation unless they have the Permanent Secretary’s consent.
“I am directed to inform all Regional Directors that a directive has been issued to all Principals/Head and head teachers of Public and Private Schools to stop all students from participating in football trials of any category with the Gambia Football Federation without the approval of the Permanent Secretary,” MoBSE said in a statement.
This development follows the GFF’s recent social media update, which featured photographs of students from Farrafenni and Essau in the North Bank Region participating in the GFF’s active football trials.
The GFF has clarified that these trials are part of the collaborative GFF/FIFA Talent Development Scheme Project, aimed at identifying and nurturing young talent. The Federation’s staff is currently working with U13 and U15 students, including both boys and girls, from various schools and football academies across the nation.