By Landing Colley
Dembo K.M Camara, National Assembly member for Illiassa constituency has questioned the construction of mini-stadius across the country, as Minister of Youth and Sports appeared to answer questions in parliament.
“Why is the government constructing mini-stadiums across the country and what is the motive behind it?” he asked.
But in his response, Bakary Badjie, Youth and Sports Minister said “these are projects that were identified by communities and the Minister of Youth and Sports assigned GAMWORK to go around the country to identify (places for) stadiums.”
He added: “We don’t just have one stadium and mini-stadium in Serrekunda and other places only, these facilities need to be extended to the rural areas so that we can be able to generate footballers.”
“I am pleased to inform that the foundation stone for the construction of the Kafuta mini-stadium in Kombo East was laid on Friday on the 20th November 2020. The construction of the mini-stadium is expected to last for six months.”
According to him, the mini-stadium has the capacity of ten thousand people with dressing rooms for both male and female and referees. But it is not necessarily constructed to have pavilion. “The one in Kafuta is at the tune of D6, 825,000 and in Fulabanta is D7, 957,000. The finance is done by the Government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Finance.”
Meanwhile, nominated member, Ndey Yassin Secka-Sallah asked whether person with disabilities will not be exempted since this is the laying foundation of the stones.
“The type of facilities we are constructing will definitely be friendly for any person and accessibility will always be there and wherever there is challenge we will put effort together for people to get access to the facilities at all time,” Mr Badjie explained.
