National Olympic Committee presidency: Tamba goes unopposed -As Abdoulie Touray withdraws candidature

Major-General Langtombong Tamba will go unopposed in the race to succeed Alhaji Abou Dande Njie as the president of the Gambia National Olympic (GNOC) after Abdoulie Touray, the only other nominee, withdrew his candidature barely 24 hours to the deadline for the submission of nominations.

Fourteen out of the twenty-three affiliated associations of the National Olympic Committee had earlier on nominated the first vice president of the Gambia Football Association for the GNOC’s highest post ahead of the June 2009 elections. The Gambia army chief was to be challenged by the incumbent national olympic committee secretary general, who was also nominated for the position that was occupied by Abou Dandeh Njie for the past twenty years.

In a u-turn coming just a day before the closing date of nominations, Touray decide to withdraw his candidature and went ahead to offer to work with Major-General Tamba in the development and promotion of sports in the country.

In a self-explanatory statement dispatched to the press yesterday, Touray said: “This is to officially inform you that I have decided to withdraw my candidature as president of The Gambia National Olympic Committee in support of the nomination of the vice president of the Gambia Football Association, [Major] General Langtombong Tamba.” “I believe that he [Tamba] possesses the leadership qualities and strong passion for sports and youth development to consolidate and build on the successes of the GNOC in the years to come.”

“I will continue to work with him selflessly and faithfully in the development and promotion of sports in The Gambia in fulfillment of the Vision 2020 development objective of our dear motherland.”