Gambia: Basketball Training for Coaches, Others Kicks Off Today

The Daily Observer (Banjul)

Omar Wally

13 June 2011

The United States Embassy in Banjul, in partnership with The Gambia Basketball Federation, LG, Trust Bank, Peace Corps and Unique FM, will today start series of trainings for young basketball players, trainers, administrators and referees. This was disclosed to reporters at a press conference yesterday evening at the American Corner, Comium Building, along the Kairaba Avenue.

Speaking at the press conference, held in the midst of a large crowd of prospective participants and basketball enthusiats, Pamela Ann White, the United States ambassador to The Gambia said the training would avail the opportunity for people to come together and promote peace and the good spirit of sports. “We can bring nations together and we will all find a way of speaking one language, the language of friendship and sportsmanship,” she noted.

According to her, it is great that so many young people had come to the American Corner to promote basketball. President Barack Obama, she said, is a big fan of basketball and that he would love to see the crowd at the American Corner. Papa Njie from the American embassy also expressed delight at the large turnout. “This is the beginning. It is an opportunity for the participants to equip themselves and explore their talents. I am so proud today” he said.

Oreme Joiner, the general manager, Trust Bank Gambia Ltd said his bank is really interested in sports. “We have as part of our social corporate scheme, development of sports in The Gambia. I was once a basketball player both nationally and internationally and for my colleges in The United States. Basketball helped me develop myself while I was in high school” he said. This, he added was to encourage participants to have the same mentality.

Other speakers on the occasion were Lamin Fofona and Modou Lamina Jatta of Gamtel; Lamina Wuyeh Manga of Unique FM and Coach William Davies.

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