Congrats to the Young Scorpions and I hope they win big for Gambia in the finals. However, the state is bankrupt to compensate the players, but our wealthy Uncle, Jammeh, has deep pockets. This is one of the reasons why our affairs are in such disarray. How can Gambians stand and watch Yaya pull D1 million to donate to a team and the "Journalists" have nothing to say? This is something I believe NADD should also question, for Jammeh's salary, per diem, agric. revenues, and all, could not justify this gift, especially if he dishes out more than ten fold in this manner, yearly. What is it with us? Our farming folk are stranded with their nuts and nearly all things relating to the state is non-functional, yet we clap for Yaya's benevolence. This same character called himself tackling corruption in the Gambia, when he is the most corrupt as they can get. Between him and his wife, they have lavished more than D1 billion in their short ten year tenure. The IMF is the first to congratulate Jammeh for tackling corruption, yet have no problem when his personal expenditures are not justified by his income. Ours is a basket case. Please read on. Jammeh presents D1M to U-17 squad Written by Chief Manneh Tuesday, 17 May 2005 President Yahya Jammeh yesterday presented D1 Million to the country’s U-17 football team during their training session at the Independence stadium. The secretary of state for Youths, Sports and Religious Affairs, Samba Faal, presenting the money on behalf of the President, said the gesture justifies that the country’s leader always fulfil whatever promises he make. He said it shows his (the President’s) level of commitment towards the efforts of the players. He added that the sum of money is being given to the players on the eve of the semi finals in order to boost their morale. SoS Faal added that he would not reveal what the President has in stock for the players when they qualify for the final and win the trophy, but assured them that he is fully behind them and will continue to give them all the support they need. Speaking earlier, the president of Gambia Football Association (GFA), Alhaji Omar Sey said: “They are back to give words of encouragement and support.” He said the President gave out the money for the simple reason that the U-17 team has reached the semi finals, adding that it is a fulfilment of his promise. The cash was disbursed among players and each of them received D55,555. The head coach and his assistant got D10,000. The trainer, team manager, kids manager, team doctor, and physical therapist, each got D9,000 while the driver got D2,850. The team captain, Ousman Jallow, thanked the President for his encouragement and assured him that they will make it to the finals as according to him, they will win the semi finals comfortably. Coach Fred Osam Duodo also welcomed the President’s gesture. ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤