A commentary The GFA congress a wild goose chase Believe it or not Gambian football is going through an unprecedented times. The enormous debate brought about by the emergence of a new force aspiring to topple what most are now comfortable to call the old guard in the politics of the game, is in itself a genuine rarity. Even the uproar that followed the disbanding of the former GFA executive by then sports minister Buba Baldeh in 1992 is by the no means a match for the current spontaneous interest surrounding the December 29 GFA congress. At the heart of the increasingly boiling debate are two opinion groups. Keep Alhagie Gabbi Sosseh "for continuation of a well established path to progress" and vote Malleh Wadda "for the revival of a sick game". To arrive at an authoritative conclusion requires an analysis of both camps. As natural law would have it I would start with the proponents of "Continuity". The out going executive is credited for both the good and the bad of the current state of football, depending on what your perception of good or bad is. Taking over from a jubilant interim committee, O.B. and his group spent their honeymoon with their minds firmly fixed on the need for an immediate successful impact. The transformation was never to be fully attended even though The Gambia has shown some sporadic impressive international outings. The Zone Two trophy which was envisaged to be a starter for the main course, the Nations cup, remains an elusive dream even after efforts as recent as last month. However the GFA ensured that the country entered in all competitions. Apart from few experiments with short spell of foreign coaches, the GFA under the outgoing executive depended largely on local technicians with little success in turning around the fortune of the country at senior level. Domestically however, the GFA increased the scope of the league to the present 20 teams first and second division and even ventured into establishing a third division in line with its much cherished decentralisation policy. A women league was also introduced. Economic Boom The period 1998 on words can be described as the economic boom of the association's 49 year old history. FIFA set up a 1 million dollar reprieve for its weak members through which over two million dalasis is deposited in the coffers of Gambian football annually. The GFA made plans to implement with the fund. Their greatest achievement was the creation of cadet teams which did so well that today it has the courage to bid for the U-17 t nations cup finals in 2005.A robust technical department was set up again mainly of local breed to coach all the categories.Regional coaches were posted to all corners of the country to take the game to the provinces who can now take part in the national league through the regional leagues. On personal levels the GFA old guard are known to be philantrophists in the game, sponsoring clubs here and donating trophies there and in more serious cases chipping in personal monies to bail out the association from financial problems.Through out their long contact with the game they have made influential friends and assume previledge positions in international football bodies, an asset many believed would be lost once they left the scene.Can those roles be filled immediately ? Will any new president make an instant impact to forestall a lapse in the flow of international treaties and corporations? Would the GFA not lose its goodwill ambassadors readily available to the old guard .How would a new president tackle the huge loan said to be left behind?These and other issues lies at the heart of the argument by the camp proposing to give the GFA executive another chance under vice president Gabbi Sosseh. In contrast Malleh Wadda,s mission find faults with most if not all of the areas considered successful under the old guard.His very approach, characterised by boldness represent a change in the politics of the game here and indeed sports in general.For far too long the young generation have considered sport leadership as a no go area with every discipline returning the same people to office time in and out. Malleh,s candidature is therefore likely to appeal to many a youth.Having gone through all the strata of sports Wadda said he is out to revitalised the lost glories of the game.He said he would like to go back to the drawing board to retrace the path that produced the likes of himself and many more. Many observers said his intention to run is not misplaced.He is probably one of the most credible personality in his generation to occupy the seat.So ladies and gentle men here in lies the debate to the congress.As I walk past Westfield pondering on this commentary yesterday a man called out, Lamin Cham, 'We don,t need old Pa'.I know exactly what he mean.That is his opinion.I reserved mine. I don,t blame him though.The Gambian youths have come of age.Their very discontent is a measure of their progress. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>> To view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>