Wrestling Congress ends in commotion

Author- FATOUMATTA SAHO (TODAY Newspaper)

The Gambia Wrestling Association congress ended in commotion after the outgoing executives term in office reports were adopted by the members of the association before the executives was dissolved by the National Sports Council, Mamudou Max Jallow at the Independence Stadium friendship hostel conference hall.

The congress which was attended by cross section of wrestlers and wrestling clubs across the country ended in commotion when it was time to elect the new executives in to office. It was first said that two club members have the right to vote, later it was announced that even the club members should also vote, election proceedings was on the process until another thing interrupted the election. The outgoing president Matarr Jarju said that according to their constitution, a promoter cannot be part of the executives, while the aspiring presidential candidate Abdoulie Bojang alias Ablo who was the vice president of the association said that there was nowhere in their constitution where it was mentioned that a promoter cannot be a part of the executives.

The incumbent president Matarr Jarju whom many believes surrender his position to allow others to lead the affairs of wrestling, to the surprise of many stood again when he was elected by some of the club members and he accepted the post.

The executive secretary of the national sports council, Mamudou max Jallow said that the reason why they postponed the election of the new wrestling executives was due to the fact they the wrestling association did not have their house in other "and that is why we are giving them two weeks to put everything in place before the next congress".

According to Mr Jarju he accepted to stood for the presidency again, claiming that his vice president Abdoulie Bojang alias Ablo is not the right person to run the affairs of wrestling in the country, noting that a promoter cannot be a member of their executives which is in their constitution.

He used the opportunity to called on all wrestling clubs in the country who did not register with the wrestling association to come on board and register before the two weeks given by the National Sports Council ends. “Clubs that are supposed to register will consist of seven wrestlers who must pay their licence fee of D250 before they become bona fide members of the Association.

For the aspiring presidential candidate Abdoulie Bojang who was disappointed with the way things unfold at the congress said there is nowhere in their constitution where it is written that a promoter cannot be part of the executive.

He added that his President Matarr Jarju already stepped down and that was why he came up to stand for the position, only for him to see Mr. Jarju stood up again after he was elected.