Gambia Volleyball Federation President Visits African Dream Project Centres

Gambia Volleyball Federation “GVBF” started another stage of African Dream Project as the federation President Yunusa Barry started a tour to the 4 centers of the project in the Gambian provinces.

The introduction of African Dream Project in December 2014 by the Gambia volleyball federation had denoted the move for the decentralization of volleyball to the grassroots. The project has set up four centers nationwide, Banjul, Serrekunda, Brikama and Farafenni in the North Bank Region of the Gambia. And as part of his tour to the centers the president of Gambia volleyball federation Yunusa Barry and the Project management team visited Farafenni center on Saturday to gaze at the level of readiness at the center.

In his welcome remarks the Director of Africa Dream Project in the Gambia, Bai Dodou Jallow urged the community to encourage and involve schools so as to discourage the students from participating in societal crimes & drug abuse and to discover and nurture the hidden talents at the grassroots.

The African Dream Project is here for Gambians and is a collective responsibility for everyone to support GVBF in realizing it dreams Jallow stated. He added that Farafenni is the only region in Provincial Gambia to have benefited from the project but they have to tighten their belts to show commitment or the center will be moved to another region.

Mr. Yusuf PE teacher at Farafenni Senior Secondary School appealed to the volleyball federation to put more consideration to the center for he believes there are lots of hidden talents in the region.

On his part the President of GVBF Yunusa Barry reiterated his executive’s willingness and commitment to spread the game to the very last village in the Gambia.

He advised the children to maintain discipline at all times and adhere to their coaches and trainers instructions. Sports and physical education is fundamental to the early development of children and youth and the skills learned during play, physical education and sports contribute to the holistic development of young people he added. He reminded the gathering that the ‘’Africa Dream Project’’ is the initiative of the FIVB President Dr. Ary S. Graca who he said wants to see an Africa nation on the podium at world championships. Barry told the children that volleyball is one of the easiest sports to get involved in and isn’t at all expensive to play. If you’re simply looking for some light-hearted fun without the competitiveness, simply gather a group of friends and start playing the game thus the slogan “Keep the ball Flying”

Muhammed L Saidykhan
GVBF Press Officer

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African Dream Project At Great Challenge In Gambia

In the framework of a fruitful implementation of the African Dream Project and for the even administration of the project, Gambia Volleyball Federation has been continuously dialoging with the stakeholders i.e. NOC, Ministry of Youths and Sports and Ministry of Education to additionally inform them on the projects. The management team led by Project Director Bai Dodou Jallow met with stakeholders at the Sports council office last week

In his welcoming statements, Project Director Bai Dodou Jallow highlighted the activities undertaken during the first 4 months of the project. He said the project was launched officially in February but before that training had commenced at the centers in December 2014. He stated that the executive of Gambia volleyball federation had set up a management committee led by him with the assistance from the Treasurer and the Press officer of the Federation.

The management team runs the affairs and wellbeing of the participants and pays monthly inspection to all the centers. He told the meeting the implementation of the African Dream Project first quarter was a success as the Gambia was ranked among the 5 top in the 37 beneficiary nations across Africa, he laid down the minimal participation of girls as the biggest challenge.

“It is a commendable move and I must said I am impressed with the Gambia volleyball federation for the rapid change made in Gambian volleyball and this project is worthwhile,” Pascal Camara of the National Sports Council stated. He advises the federation to involve parents and keep monitoring the center coaches.

The development officer of National Sports Council Ebou Secka thanks the GVBF and applauded them for the steadfastness and commitment. “Government alone cannot do it so when National sporting associations/federation implements such projects they must be commended. You should start sending in your report so that we can file them in your file and we will read them at the National assembly,” Secka advised.

“The involvement of National assembly members, politicians, communities, schools and parents is important and will help in the validation process.” The treasurer of Gambia Volleyball federation Marie Wadda also expressed similar sentiments.

Meanwhile the president of Gambia Volleyball Federation Yunusa Barry has reaffirmed his continuous support to the African Dream project. He advised the coaches to strategize their plans and make good use of the project to train and equip the kids on the basics of the game. “The dream Project is a pilot project of FIVB President Dr Ary Graca and Gambia is among the few countries in Africa that benefited from it so is a pride as well as a challenge so we should work hard,” Barry said.

He made this remarks on Saturday at Center one training ground in Banjul where he paid a courtesy call on the project management team.

He acknowledged his Federation’s willingness to promote grass root volleyball. ‘’ I want to see every school going Gambian kid playing volleyball and that is the goal of Dr Ary Graca FIVB president, that’s why he is funding this project. He dreams to see one day an African Volleyball team on the gold medal Podium at the World Level so we should make him to see that and God willing it will be Gambia.

Muhammed L Saidykhan

CAVB Refereeing Course Concludes In Gambia

The first National referee course organized by CAVB under the presidency of Yunusa Barry in Gambia was concluded on Monday 27th July 2015 in Banjul, with the participation of 19 referees. The five-day programme conducted by FIVB instructor Jaouad Berrada (Morocco) followed-up on a similar course implemented in August 2014 which was instructed by CAVB international referee Bai Dodou Jallow (Gambia) and focused on practical and theoretical training, in the areas of refereeing with the objective of enabling participants to run grassroots activities within Gambia’s volleyball circle. The course ended with an examination session with 95% passes.

Female referees following up

‘’It is always good to be part of history, and I would continue to challenge you, to accept that instead of succeeding today we have started a journey, a journey of injecting all the skills, all the knowledge and passion we know about volleyball’’ commented Yunusa Barry President Gambia Volleyball Federation (GVBF). We can see that a great deal of attention is being given to volleyball by Government, local sporting authorities, clubs, schools and academies to support the local volleyball scene.”

The instructor during the practical session

“The course provided us with a clear insight into some key aspects of refereeing in volleyball, including volleyball development, the organization of Volleyball festivals and basic refereeing skills, which will play a key role in the development of our sport in Gambia,” said Joseph Sambou a Participant from Gambia Armed Forces (GAF).

Course instructor Jaouad Berrada also thanked the participants for discipline, commitment and dedication. He commended the national federation for conducting refereeing courses in the Gambia and confirmed that 16 referees successfully pass the exam.

A collective photo of all the participants with the instructor

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Muhammed L Saidykhan

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Gambia volleyball federation “GVBF” launched this week the African Dream Project “Dr. Ary Graca Volleyball Development Program for Africa”

The Programme aims at having a common project mainly focusing on volleyball at school. The project will see the setting up of centers that will be used to develop and identify athletes at young age and arranging all the keys for their involvement later on to their corresponding Youth national teams.

The president of the federation Yunusa Barry thanked the FIVB president for the noble movement he has giving to the continent of Africa.

African Dream Project Begins in Gambia

“The African dream project is a stepping stone for the development of volleyball in country and will aid in promotion of the game to the grass root and will reassure mass involvement across the country,” Barry said. “It is expected to become a major power in the near future as we have lot of young people in the Gambia with the talent and strength to play the game.”

We are task with the mission to importantly discover players from the aim of creating talent centers this federation would not be able to do it alone thus we must involve relevant stakeholders like Ministries of sports and education and the national Olympic committee.

The minister of interior Ousman Sonko, who deputized the minister of sports, congratulated the executive of the Gambia volleyball federation and extended his sincere gratitude to the FIVB president. Sonko in his statements urged all the coordinators and coaches to select kid’s base on their potential regardless of tribe, race, religion or where they come from. For the coaches and the coaches ‘’to whom much is giving much is expected’’, these are our future volleyball stars, these are they future leaders to make good use of this project all hands most on the deck the interior minister stated.

He advised the kids to dedicate themselves to the project and maintain discipline throughout the four years. He concluded by officially launching the Project in the Gambia.

Four centers were identified across the country.
1. Banjul (Banjul City Council) coordinator Alagie Ceesay, Coach Ebrima Niass

2. Serre Kunda east (Kanifing Municipality) coordinator Alfousainey Jarju, Coach Alagie Babou Joof

3. Brikama (West Coast Region) coordinator Lamin A. Jammeh, Coach Pa Barrow

4. Farra Fenni (North Bank Region) coordinator Yankuba Manjang, coach Pa Amat Jeng

The launching was graced by Gambia national Olympic committee, ministry of youths and sports, national sports council, other national federations, volleyball lovers and sports journalists.

Muhammed L Saidykhan-Press Officer GVBF

Gambia Gear Up For Rio Olympic Beach Volleyball Qualifiers

Gambia men and women beach volleyball teams will leave the country on Thursday for Dakar to take part in the sub zonal Pool 2 qualification round for Rio Olympic Games in 2016. Gambia will be partaking in its first international championships since the beginning of the Yunusa Barry’s led-executive. The qualification will be played between 4 nations in Senegal as the host, Cape Verde, Mauritania and The Gambia. The tournament was originally scheduled to be hosted by Gambia but Gambia was denied to host the tournament at the scheduled dates because of the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa. The host country was later changed to Senegal and will be held from 22 January to 26 January 2015 in Senegal.

“We are all ready and well prepared to represent the nation in this momentous event,” Alfousainey Jarju Secretary General of GVBA said. Jarju further stated the importance of the competition, “This is part of the plan to send our national teams to all the continental competitions and we are anticipative that we will come out with an excellent result.

Gambia women team prepares

Gambia National Olympic Committee would be providing the funding for the travel and needed logistics to support and warrant smooth participation of the team in this very imperative competition. The team will leave to Dakar on 22nd January and the tournament will kick off on 23rd January.

“We are going to play against different nations with different styles of modern volleyball, so we have to prepare comprehensively. There is no need to explain that we will be competing against teams from the best volleyball nations in Africa. I am pleased that we will get to know all the famous style and background of African beach volleyball. I am proud and expectations are really high,” Malick Jammeh a senior player said.

Babucarr Jarra another selected player further thank the new executive for the moral and financial support rendered and the trust they bestowed on him to carry out the national duty. We are representing our country in the Olympic qualifies, where unfortunately I never played, so I will have to be humble and to play with respect and pride.”

Gambia during training

Abie Kujabi of GAF said it is a very tough challenge for them. “We will face great nations with rich backgrounds in African beach volleyball and huge volleyball schools. But still see this championship as a great moment for us. It will be a challenging experience for us-the players, the coaching staffs, and the board and of course our country she stated.

Selected players for women’s team are Abie Kujabie (GAF), Saffie Sawaneh (GAF), Sainabou Tambedou (Gamtel/Gamcel), Fatoumatta M. Ceesay (Interior) and for the Men’s team Malick Jammeh (Old Jeshwang), Babucarr Jarra (Old Jeshwang), Pa Ali Njie (Serre Kunda East) and Alieu Barry (Gamtel/Gamcel).

By Muhammed L Saidykhan- Press Officer GVBA