As the campaign for the controversial and well publicized elections for Gambia Football Federation (GFF) President comes to a close, reports has it that Seedy Kinteh the all time most successful GFF President has withdrawn his candidature ahead of tomorrows D-Day elections for the club. Kinteh has reportedly endorse former rival Mustapha Kebbeh who is contesting against Momodou Mousa a banking executive from Banjul. Kinteh along with his other former executive members of the GFF were banned from contesting the elections amid controversy that they allegedly mismanaged the funds of the organization. The temporary normalization committee put in place by FIFA headed by Alhagie Omar Sey concluded that Kinteh and others are banned from contesting the elections.
The issue brought a lot of controversy and tension in the football world in Gambia. Many were shocked that Kinteh and Halla Samba former President and Vice President of the club respectively were banned as they were the most successful during their seven year tenure as leaders of the club. Veteran sports journalist and reporter Tijan Masanneh Ceesay argued on Gainako radio that Kinteh had the most successful record to show for Gambian football. He concluded that the duo could have been allowed to contest elections for the best interest of Gambian football.
As the campaign come to a close and polls open tomorrow morning July 31st, a list of illegible voter participants from various clubs across the country has been released. However, the issue seems to draw more controversy as some argue that there is a trial element injected into this campaign. One social media commentator said “TRIBALISM has no place in this country and we should not allow the ugly head of TRIBALISM in Gambian Football. The first setback in Gambian Football was caused by TRIBALISM in the 1980s and we should not allow it to happen again. But looking at things now, unfortunately, TRIBALISM is playing a crucial part in this campaign for the GFF Elections”.
Although this seems to be an isolated opinion in the public but many are skeptical if in fact this bitter campaign for the Presidency of GFF has not brought back the ugly history of alleged discrimination and tribalism in Gambian football. Former allstar Gambian footballer Sang Mendy posted an audio interview with the two remaining candidates Momodou Mousa and Mustapha Kebbeh. The two spoke eloquently about their positions and the future of Gambian football. https://www.facebook.com/groups/soccercornergambia/
In the meantime, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has also been drawn into the controversy. Alhagie Omar Sey the Chair of the Normalization committee suggested that the IEC could have stepped in and help the organization conduct the elections. The current chairman of IEC Carayol who has allegedly overstayed his constitutional mandate as IEC Chair reacted to the suggestion that the IEC should participate in such an election. He calls it illegal and violates the provisions of the constitution.
In a reaction to Chairman Carayols dismissal and ridiculing the IEC participation, constitutional lawyer and former magistrate Lamin J. Darboe currently resident in the UK weighed in to argue that the Chairman’s interpretation of the constitution is ill conceived and misrepresenting. He argued that the IEC participation in this election by no means gives them the authority to conduct the elections but rather as a trusted electoral body there is credence in them stepping in and helping oversee the elections of the officials if nothing but to restore public confidence in such elections in the country. Darboe explicitly argued that the IEC chair could have made better arguments taking into consideration the rules of FIFA and or GFF in involving groups like an election council whose mandate is entirely political. If FIFA rules bans this then Chairman Carayol could have been vindicated in refusing to participate in such elections. He concluded that the IEC was only an invitee and therefore could lend credit to the already much battered image of GFF.
Gambians eagerly awaits the election results and hope that the participation of FIFA delegates will give the election more credit and transparency. List of delegates to the elections tomorrow morning:
Delegates To GFF National Congress
First Division Clubs
Armed Forces Football Club
1. Musa Jammeh
2. Ebrima Cham Gibba
Bakau United FC
1. Bori Darboe
Brikama United
1. Alhagie S. Darboe
2. Basiru Bajo
Real De Banjul
1. William Abraham
2. Bakary Jammeh
Young Africans
1. Modou Musa
2. Ousainou Darboe
Seaview Football Club
1. Tombong Saidy
2. Saihou Jammeh
Gambia Ports Authority FC
1. Arthur Ashcroft
2. Modou Faal
Steve Biko FC
1. Mustapha Kebbeh
Gamtel FC
1. Kebba Touray
2. Momodou L. Jatta
Samger FC
1. Jane Joof
2. Omar Badjie
Hawks FC
1. Sang Ndong
2. Sadibou Kamaso
Interior FC
1. Manlafi Barry
2. Pa Badjie
Second Division
Bombada FC
1. Buba Janneh
Latrikunda United FC
1. Sheikh Tijan Njie
2. Mustapha Faye
Tallinding United FC
1. Alagie Jandi
2. Alagie Nyassi
KGI FC
1. Ebrima Jallow
2. Ousman Drammeh
Serrekunda East FC
1. Joe Sambou
2. Malick Camara
Wallidan FC
1. Mawya Deen
2. Demba Conateh
Banjul United FC
1. Ebou Faye
2. Ebou Ndure
Sait Matty FC
1. Abdoulie Bangura
2. Ousman Janneh
Lamin United FC
1. Dodou Bojang
2. Mustapha Manneh
Serrekunda United FC
1. Pa Lamin Sillah
2. Wahab Manneh
Regions
KM Football Regional Association
1. Bakary Dampha
2. Omar Danso
3. Saihou Bah
Banjul Football Regional Association
1. Modou Sowe
2. Oumie Bittaye
3. Baboucarr Drammeh
West Coast Regional Football Association
1. Abdou Karim Sey
2. Bakary Bojang
3. Modou Camara
CRR Regional Football Association
1. Numukunda Kanyi