The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), recently presented a cheque for one million Dalasi (D1, 000,000) to the National Coordinating Committee in support of the forthcoming AFCON, scheduled to start on 13th January 2024, in Ivory Coast.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Minister of Youth and Sport, Hon. Bakary Y. Badjie, thanked PURA for being the first public institution to support the country’s participation in the AFCON 2024.
Minister Badjie, went on to call on other institutions and individuals to emulate PURA’s magnanimous gesture, while explaining that the nation’s participation in the continent’s biggest football competition is expensive and must not be left with government alone.
For his part, the Director General of PURA, Mr. Yuspha Jobe, expressed his institution’s commitment to continue to support the development of sport in the Gambia.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the fundraising and publicity committee, Mr. Bakary K. Jammeh, applauded PURA for what he called, support to a worthy course. Mr. Jammeh opined that football has exported many Gambians abroad, resulting in huge financial benefits to the Gambia.
The National team is expected to return to the country from their training camp in Saudi Arabia on 8th January, 2024. The team will play an exhibition match at the Independence Stadium on 9th January, 2024 and leave to Ivory Coast the same day, soon after the match.