By: Aja Beyai
In a significant boost to grassroots football development, the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) today signed landmark contracts with construction companies, consultants, and suppliers to build new pitches, upgrade facilities, and provide essential vehicles nationwide.
The signing ceremony took place at Football House in Kanifing and was attended by GFF leadership and stakeholders. Supported in part by FIFA, the initiatives aim to expand access to quality playing surfaces and logistics, ensuring football thrives beyond urban centers.
Key projects include the construction of natural grass pitches at Bullock and Kwinella, featuring civil works including boreholes, comprehensive watering systems, perimeter fencing, and dressing rooms equipped with amenities for players, officials, and medical staff. Artificial turf pitches will be installed in Old Yundum (at the Biri-Biri National Technical Training Centre) and Kuntair, in direct collaboration with FIFA.
Additional works cover the completion of the Soma Pavilion and civil enhancements at NTTC (Biri Biri). Local contractors, including Gigo Construction Company Limited for several lots, will execute the projects over nine months following a transparent public tender process designed to uphold accountability and quality standards.
The federation will also procure eight double-cabin 4×4 pick-up vehicles—one for each Regional Football Association and one dedicated to Women’s Football—plus a 32-seater minibus to transport national league clubs.
The total cost for contractors and consultants stands at USD 1,124,684 (approximately GMD 80,977,258), with consultant fees amounting to USD 141,402.29 (GMD 10,180,964.80) and contractors’ costs at USD 1,074,753.58 (GMD 77,382,257.55). A detailed breakdown includes: Soma Pavilion Completion: USD 49,930.56 (GMD 3,595,000), Bullock Civil Works & Grass Pitch: USD 14,583.33 (GMD 1,050,000), Kwinella Civil Works & Grass Pitch: USD 13,888.89 (GMD 1,000,000), Kuntair Civil Works: USD 8,680.56 (GMD 625,000), NTTC (Biri Biri) Civil Works: USD 7,986.11 (GMD 575,000).
GFF President Lamin Kaba Bajo hailed the developments as a transformative leap. “These infrastructure projects represent a major step in ensuring football is played to standard throughout the length and breadth of the country,” he said. “They provide equal opportunities for every young girl and boy to live their dreams through football.”
1st Vice President and project focal person Bakary K. Jammeh added: “This is another milestone in our football development program, particularly in field infrastructure. We’re starting the process of building pitches throughout the country because football is loved and played everywhere in The Gambia.”
The agreements align with FIFA’s worldwide push to grow football and are expected to nurture talent, raise competition standards, and foster inclusivity in rural and regional areas. Observers view the move as a concrete response to long-standing calls for decentralized investment in the sport.
With construction set to commence soon, these initiatives signal the GFF’s commitment to building a stronger, more equitable football ecosystem for future generations.
