The executive director of the National Sports Council (NSC) is optimistic about the future of Gambian sports post covid-19. Marcel Mendy was speaking during an exclusive interview with reporters on the NSC endeavors regarding the resumption of sports in the country.
The outbreak of corona virus pandemic halted many activities globally including sports. In The Gambia, the enforcement of a state of emergency by the government contributed largely to slowing down sport activities nationwide.
According to Marcel Mendy, sports will soon resume in The Gambia following a series of consultations the Council had with the ministries of Youths and Sports as well as the authorities of Health.
“We are hungrier than the general public, fans and clubs for the resumption of sports in the country because that is what we are being paid for.”
Mendy said his Council has been engaging both ministries (Sports and Health) for the resumption of collective sports activities in the country. The NSC boss noted that discussions occurred with the director of Health Service, Dr. Mustapha Bittaye and his colleague of Public Health, Modou Njai to have the restriction on sports in the country removed.
In what appears to be an institutional miscommunication on the formalities prior to the resumption of collective sports, Marcel Mendy said “The director informed me about the removal of the restriction on sports, I told him that we didn’t see any documented information regarding the issue,”
The NSC executive director further said that together with Dr. Bittaye of the Health Services, a process was engaged involving the ministry of Justice to formally ascertain the removal of the Covid-19 related restrictions on sports.
“After reviewing the relevant document we went back to the director of Health Services Dr. Bittaye but we were told that he travelled and that his deputy is sick and wasn’t coming to work. We however managed to discuss with the director of Public Health who assured us to do something about it“, Mendy explained.
Marcel Mendy, whose office is responsible for the regulation of Sporting associations and activities in The Gambia, said that they are doing everything they can for the resumption of sports in the country.