Further donations from Danish football clubs.

The Danish citizen, Allan Nevado, visited Soma during the last week of the school holiday to hand out another donation of football equipment to a Soma based academy.

Thursday 3^rd January was the day that the newly founded Soma based academy received a donation of football kits and balls from two Danish football clubs. Allan Nevado, a representative of the clubs was present at the presentation that took place at Kairakonko in Soma and was participated by players, coaches and the adviser of the academy, representatives of the regional scouts head quarter of Soma and St. Georgs Guilds who made the donation possible.

Receiving the items overwhelmed the coach Ensa ‘Mourinho’ Darboe, who stated that they could not have arrived at a better time than this. “This is all achieved due to hard work,” he explained and thanked the donor for the generosity. “These things will go in a long way for us to help developing football in the region, “ he continued before giving the floor to Allan ‘Dorleh’ Nevado, who stated that seriousness regarding training and the respect of the coaches who all work hard is important for the players development: “These coaches work for free because they have a passion for the game and they wish to see you go far,” he told the players, “we have worked hard to make this donation possible. Other academies have asked for kits but were left out since they were not serious. I hope that you will make good use of the equipment” he ended.

Fafanding Suno representing the St. Georgs Guilds explained how the organisation works to help development in the country. “The Danish people are already doing a lot to help both hospitals and scouts in the Gambia and due to their consistently effort for the Gambia they have now helped Mr. Dorleh to bring in equipment for academies” The secretary of the academy, Lamin Sanneh, also gave his appreciation of the donated materials for the academy before Demba Three Ceesay, the Alkalo of Soma New Town, finished the speeches by stating that it is important that the materials are put into best use. “I can not play due to my age, but the love for the game made me spend the little I had to help the development of football in the region,” he revealed and continued: “There for it gladdens my heart to see donations like this.” The Alkalo were the first in Soma to believe in football and there for he dedicated his time to encourage the children of the town to play. Today these children are the coaches of the academy and his own grandchildren are benefiting from the project he started. The ceremony ended with a game between the academy players and a chosen team of consisting of coaches scout members and the donor Mr. Dorleh. Despite several attempts by the coaches and 3 great scoring opportunities to the donor, the well disciplined defence of the academy kept the ball out of the net and the game ended with a late goal victory for the academy team.The academy has already achieved great success within its first year in progress. In May they reached the final of the Giant Trophy Competition for intermediates in the district and the 70 players of 3 age groups will in the future be known as the Dorleh Nevado Football Academy it was later revealed. A great gesture to the donor from the academy founded in March 2007. DNFA will in the coming month get registered at GFA level and hopefully the development of football will continue in the region with the help of future donations. The Danish clubs have already donated equipment to 3 academies in The Gambia and Allan Nevado has promised that he will do his best to link Gambian academies with Danish clubs and also try to bring in more equipment in the future. Finally the donor would like to thank the president and government of The Gambia for making these donations possible and for their efforts and progress to develop the country.