By Gainako
GAI SPORTS AGENCY based in the US organized a student-athletes college showcase in the Gambia. The open football try-outs were both held at the FIFA Goal Project in Yundum. The showcase football camp is designed for high school football players that want to work directly with coaches in the US. The event is for those young athletes focused on becoming college football student-athletes.
CEO of the Agency Pa Saloum Gai a native of Bakau who is residing in the US Said to this medium the try-outs is to support the young athletes’ community for US try-outs free of charge. He further briefed that the camp is a continuous process to feature quality instruction from active college coaches in the US.
The camp will expose players to evaluations provided by coaching staff, information on college scholarships and pointers on US college athletes for players. “Each segment of the camps will consist of player evaluation and skill training on the technical and tactical competencies of the game,” he said. “The camp is open to all high school football players who are eligible based on academic performances,” he said.
Mr Gai laments that it has been his dream to support his country through sports education. His experience in being awarded the same opportunity in the past motivates him to help other future stars. The agency invites prominent college coaches from the US to witness the second session held earlier in December 2021.
Coach Malang Jarjue is currently in the Gambia to scout young players at the showcase. In a recent telephone conversation with Coach Jarjue, he explains that the invitation is an opportunity for him to assess young Gambian players from his home country. He welcomes the invitation and said that the youth deserve attention and support.
Coach Malang was recently awarded as the Tennessee State Football 2021 Boys Competitive Coach of the year. Mamour M Mbenga alias Kifa Barham a community youth leader, journalist by profession and the Sports Manager for Gai Sports Agency in the Gambia said 150 young players participated at the beginning of the first try-outs session.
Mr Mbenga noted that for every session the Agency will assess the young players’ performances. Their agency has set activities that are recorded with professional football cameras and inviting local professional coaches to participate in the showcase camp.
Mr Mbenga explained that the try-out sessions are recorded and the footage will be used to create individual player profiles and highlights to share with college coaches in the US for easy scouting. “We are on our final list assessment as the camp session will continue annually with a different batch of athletes,” he said.
