Mustapha Kebbeh and Buba Star Janneh have trounced their respective opponents in the just concluded Gambia Football Association’s elections. We congratulate the winners. They have done so against the hand-picked slate of candidates and against all odds when they have been actively opposed by the Normalization Committee and it’s minions, despite their claim of neutrality. These wins should serve concurrently as notice and warning that the tide is turning.
Gambians have had enough of the mismanagement and corruption that has permeated all aspect of Gambian life including football. Gambians seemed to have finally seen through the sycophancy and are finally breaking away from it. The tyranny of the minority must end.
Changes are taking place, however gradual, and one can list the following as pointers ; the record number of Independent candidates who have won elections during the Municipalities and Area Council elections, including the Mayoralty of Banjul; the Meet the Farmer’s Tour which saw many elders staying home rather than assemble in a dusty park under the hot sun to listen to more insults from Jammeh; and now the GFF election results.
As we have counselled Mayor Lie Bah in the past, we say to the new President and Executive of the Gambian Football Federation remain independent of the corrupting influences of politics. And maintain and build on the exemplary record of the outgoing President and Executive. The new Management must also expunge from the record the slanderous and false claims contained in the Report of the so-called disciplinary Committee of the so-called Normalization Committee which were designed to besmirch the good character of those the powers that be feared the most.
The stellar reputations of all the banned members of the Federation must be restored. The people who have opposed the action of the Normalization Committee have been vindicated by the footballers, supporters and owners of the Football Clubs from Banjul to Basse in a resounding and public fashion by voting in all of those candidates who were opposed by the opponents of change. Let a new generation of Gambians lead the game while the old guard retire gracefully.
Sidi M. Sanneh