Bakary Y. Badjie Details Stadium Renovations and Expanded Sports Support

Youth and Sports Minister Bakary Y. Badjie says the government is investing in sporting venues and youth opportunities, pointing to renovated national facilities, new community complexes and increased support for national teams and skills training. Speaking at a government news conference in Bijilo, Badjie described the developments as part of a wider effort to improve sports infrastructure and open more opportunities for young Gambians. One of the newest projects is the O.J. Jallow Memorial Mini-Stadium in Bakoteh, home of the Serrekunda Central Zone. According to Badjie, the site was redeveloped over about two and a half years after flooding had made it difficult to use during the rainy season. The upgraded complex now accommodates basketball, volleyball, handball, beach volleyball and table tennis. It also has changing rooms and floodlights, allowing football and other activities to take place at night. Badjie called it the country’s best mini-stadium outside Independence Stadium. He said the Bakoteh facility adds to community stadiums opened in recent years in Kiang, Manduar, Janjanbureh, Kafuta and Sandu. Badjie also announced that renovation work at Independence Stadium has been completed after three years, a step towards bringing international matches back to the country’s main sporting venue. The minister said the Confederation of African Football had given the stadium provisional approval, while emphasizing that this status did not necessarily point to problems with the physical infrastructure. He said inspectors had fully approved the pitch. The remaining assessment, Badjie explained, will focus largely on match-day arrangements: managing crowds, security, spectator access and exits, and emergency readiness. Officials also need to show how newly installed equipment works in match conditions, including the scoreboard, public-address and override systems, and medical emergency procedures.