Sports Minister Says He Faced Calls for His Removal During Stadium Renovation

By Seedy Jobe

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Bakary Y. Badjie, said he faced calls for his dismissal at one point during the renovation of the Independence Stadium, as delays and setbacks fueled public frustration over the prolonged closure of the country’s main sporting venue.

Mr. Badjie said President Adama Barrow, however, understood the difficulties surrounding the project and recognized that responsibility for the delays did not rest solely with the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

“Some people were calling for my sacking at one time,” Mr. Badjie said in an interview with GRTS.

His remarks came after the Confederation of African Football, or CAF, granted provisional approval for the Independence Stadium this week, clearing the way for The Gambia to host international matches at home again beginning in September. The stadium had been barred from hosting international matches since 2022 after failing to meet CAF standards.

Mr. Badjie described the decision as a relief for both the government and Gambian football fans, who have waited three years to see the Scorpions play competitive international matches on home soil.

He said the remaining requirements were largely operational rather than structural. Under the provisional approval, The Gambia can host international matches as long as the stadium meets CAF’s match-day requirements.

Several systems have been installed as part of the renovation, including a new scoreboard, public-address equipment, and an emergency override system. The authorities have also worked on security arrangements and the management of entrances and exits.

CAF has also adjusted its parking restrictions around the stadium. Because of the facility’s location, Mr. Badjie said, the usual one-mile restriction has been reduced to 500 meters.

The minister acknowledged that the renovation took considerably longer than initially expected. The government had planned to complete the first phase within a year after receiving technical advice that the work would be sufficient to secure provisional approval.

But CAF later required the completion of both the first and second phases, he said, extending the project’s timeline and increasing its cost.

Mr. Badjie also acknowledged technical mistakes during the renovation. He said the ministry initially relied on local expertise that suggested the first phase would satisfy CAF’s requirements, an assessment that ultimately proved incorrect.

Problems later emerged with the playing surface, he said, while the ministry lacked some of the specialized equipment needed to maintain the pitch under local weather conditions, including tractors and sprayers.

To address those shortcomings, the ministry engaged Gregory International on the recommendation of ProPitch, a consulting firm working with CAF. Stadium staff were also trained in pitch maintenance.

Mr. Badjie defended the government’s decision to use local contractors working in partnership with international firms. Hiring a foreign company to carry out the entire project, he said, would have significantly increased the cost because of expenses associated with bringing equipment and personnel into and out of the country.

He also credited President Barrow with intervening when funding for the project stalled and thanked the Ministry of Works for providing technical supervision and the Ministry of Finance for financing the renovation.

For Mr. Badjie, the most important outcome is the return of international football to Gambian soil. Hosting matches at home may not necessarily cost less than playing abroad, he said, but the presence of home supporters and the sense of national pride make the effort worthwhile.

He apologized to Gambians who grew frustrated with the delays and urged supporters to turn out for the Scorpions by buying tickets when international football returns.

“Everything we were doing was to ensure that football comes back,” he said. “The fans have been waiting for it for a long time, including myself and you and everyone else.”

Mr. Badjie said the major renovation work was now complete and that the government’s attention had shifted to meeting the remaining operational requirements before the Scorpions play their first home match in September.