The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) convened a key meeting with key stakeholders at the Metzy Residence Hotel in Kololi on Thursday, July 2, 2026. The primary purpose of the gathering was to validate the full business plan for the proposed Gambia Professional Football League. A diverse array of representatives attended this key session, including officials from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, various government entities, the Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA), numerous football clubs, media organizations, and members of the broader sports community. The discussions were meticulously structured to finalize the strategic direction for the professional league's implementation, aiming to lay a strong foundation for its future success.
League Goals and Rationale
GFF General Secretary Lamin M Jassey articulated the federation's vision, stating that the significant progress achieved under the current Football Federation administration has made the transition from an amateur system to a professional structure both necessary and timely. He emphasized that the GFF Executive Committee had formally resolved a year prior to embark on the establishment of a professional league. Mr. Jassey further elaborated on the anticipated benefits, noting that professionalism would not only boost player market value but also create vital job opportunities and significantly contribute to national socio-economic growth. This strategic move is intended to leverage football's immense potential beyond mere sport, integrating it directly into the country's economic development framework. This strategic shift aims to formalize and enhance the league's operational and financial aspects, aligning it with international standards for professional football and fostering a more dynamic sports economy.
Blueprint and Implementation Strategy
The GFF ensured a rigorous selection process for its consultant, with Professor Muhammed Mustapha Fanneh ultimately chosen for the project following a transparent tender process. Professor Fanneh’s preparatory work involved extensive consultations, reaching out to various government ministries, as well as engaging with trade and tourism bodies, and key actors within the sports sector to gather full insights. During the validation meeting, Professor Fanneh presented a meticulously crafted document titled “A Blueprint for Professionalising Football in The Gambia.” This blueprint comprehensively details the strategic framework for the league's transition, providing a clear roadmap for its development. Professor Fanneh further outlined a five-year resource mobilisation strategy, specifically designed to secure the necessary funding and support required for the professional league's initial implementation and its sustained operation. The strategy aims to ensure long-term viability and growth for Gambian football, fostering a sustainable ecosystem for the sport.
Stakeholder Endorsements and Future
The validation session was presided over by GFF President Lamin Kaba Bajo, who showed the significance of the initiative. GFF President Lamin Kaba Bajo stated, "The introduction of a professional league is a major milestone in modernising Gambian football." He noted that the proposed professional league is specifically designed to benefit clubs, attract substantial corporate investment, and ultimately commercialise Gambian football on a broader scale. Its blueprint proposes strict governance, administrative, financial, and technical criteria for participating clubs, all backed by a full Strategic Implementation Plan. Stakeholder consultations overwhelmingly favored naming the new competition the Gambia Premier League (GPL), reflecting a collective consensus on its identity.
Mahmud Lamin Jawla, the Acting Executive Director of the National Sports Council, described the initiative as a collective triumph for the entire Gambian football family. He noted that the Plan’s greatest strength lies in its full implementation framework, which has been meticulously designed to ensure sustainability while simultaneously creating tangible value for clubs, players, and fans alike. A successful rollout of this ambitious plan will depend heavily on strong partnerships forged between the government, the GFF, participating clubs, potential investors, and the wider community. The presentation concluded with an interactive Q&A session, which was followed by plenary discussions and focused group work to finalise the key action points necessary for the league's successful launch and operation.
