Africa-Press – Gambia. The Sports Journalists’ Association of The Gambia (SJAG) has strongly condemned the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) and the Gambia Basketball Association (GBA) for transporting the Gambia U-16 Basketball Team to Guinea Conakry by bus.
A few days ago, the team, en route to take part in the regional championship qualifiers, was involved in a road accident in which several individuals, including players, were injured.
SJAG said it strongly condemns the questionable decision by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the GBA to transport young athletes by bus on such a long and “potentially dangerous journey.”
“This incident raises serious concerns about the safety protocols and travel arrangements for our national teams, particularly our youth, who represent the future of Gambian sports. The SJAG questions why safer alternatives, such as air travel, were not prioritised, exposing our athletes to unnecessary risks. The use of a bus for such an international trip is unacceptable and reflects a grave lapse in judgment,” SJAG stated.
According to SJAG, the consequences of this accident extend beyond the immediate injuries. Missing the qualifiers due to this “avoidable tragedy” will have a profound impact on both the boys’ and girls’ teams and the broader landscape of Gambian basketball. These young athletes have dedicated countless hours to training and preparation, and this setback deprives them of a critical opportunity to showcase their talent, gain international experience, and advance their development.
“The government and the Basketball Association must be held accountable for this failure. SJAG demands answers as to why such a risky mode of transportation was chosen and calls for immediate reforms to prioritise athlete safety,” the association said.
Acknowledging the prompt response from H.E. President Barrow and the Office of the President in arranging a private plane to bring the team home and deploying a medical team to assist the victims, SJAG further argued that this effort does not excuse the initial negligence that led to this preventable incident. SJAG demands a transparent investigation into the decision-making process behind the choice of transportation and urges the implementation of robust policies to prevent future occurrences.
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