Hon Bah of Banjul North Extends Support for Banjul Mini Stadium
Hon Bah and Beneficiaries (c) Askanwi Media
By Edward Francis Dalliah
The National Assembly Member for Banjul North, Hon Modou Lamin Bah donated a total of D60,000 to eleven different sports institutions including nine football teams on Friday 20th September 2024. The biggest single donation of D10,000 was awarded to the Banjul Sports Committee towards the rehabilitation of the Banjul Mini Stadium known popularly as “KG5”.
This was the third donation ceremony organized by Hon Bah since 2022 which took place at the Arch 22nd with the aim of supporting Banjul North teams who qualified for the Banjul Nawetten. Nawettan is the local football tournament which takes place during the rainy season.
During his key note speech, Hon Bah highlighted that “the reason for this initiative is geared towards nurturing sports in the city of Banjul and beyond”.
KG5 is the City’s only Mini Stadium and is used for grass-roots Nawetten and the country's Division League matches. Unfortunately, over the years, footballers and coaches have raised concerns on the quality of the football pitch.
A publication by Alkamba Times in May this year, reveals one such concern from a Division One player, Alieu Jammeh of BST Galaxy who highlighted that “it is indeed a very big risk to play in Banjul KG5, and GFF has to do something to protect their future national and professional assets. After every game on this field, you count injuries, and so many players are having setbacks in their careers with some quitting the game because of the poor grounds”.
State of KG5 Pitch (c) Banjul Sports Committee
Representing the Banjul Sports Committee, President Modou Musa Njie expressed his appreciation for the support, stating that “football is a way out of poverty”. He welcomed the support rendered to the Sports Committee which he says will help shape the future of the game and contribute to the development of the field.
Apart from the Banjul Sports Committee, nine teams from Banjul North who are currently playing in the 2024 Banjul Nawetten received five thousand dalasis (D5,000) each, while the Kerr Haleh YI Foundation Football tournament under the leadership of Sheriff Camara ‘Chippa Yi’ also received five thousand dalasis (D5,000).
In last year's edition, a total of fifty thousand dalasis (D50,000) was awarded to football teams in Banjul North which has seen a D10,000 increase this year.
Banjul Leaders and Hon Bah (c) Askanwi Media
