By Mariatou Ngum & Abdou Mbye
His Excellency Mohammed B.S. Jallow, Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia, on Tuesday, 16 June received a high-level delegation from Fulness Sports Academy at his office at State House in Banjul, where discussions centered on youth empowerment, talent development, and the fight against irregular migration through sports.
The delegation, led by Mr. Mohammed Jallow, Chairman and Coordinator of the Local Organising Committee of Fulness Sports Academy, briefed the Vice President on the successful implementation of the academy’s latest talent identification project dubbed “Let Them Shine.”
The initiative brought together ten football teams in a competitive tournament aimed at identifying promising young Gambian footballers and connecting them with legal opportunities in professional clubs across Europe, Asia, and the Arab world.
The delegation included internationally recognised football scouts and talent agents from the United Kingdom, Portugal, and across the sub-region, who recently concluded a football tournament involving ten teams. Following an extensive scouting process, a number of promising young players were identified for potential opportunities with clubs in Europe, Asia, and the Arab world.
According to Mr. Jallow, the scouts spent several days assessing local talent before selecting a number of young players who could potentially secure opportunities abroad through legal and structured pathways.
“Fulness Sports Academy is committed to identifying talent and creating opportunities for young Gambians while helping to combat irregular migration,” he explained. “We want our youth to understand that they can achieve their dreams through legal channels and not through dangerous journeys across deserts and seas.”
The academy, which is officially registered with both the Gambia Football Federation and FIFA structures, has increasingly positioned itself as a key player in youth development, using football as a tool for social transformation and economic opportunity.
During the meeting, the delegation presented a progress report on the tournament and sought the Vice President’s support in facilitating documentation, recommendations, and institutional partnerships that would help selected players pursue professional careers abroad through legitimate processes.
A key feature of the project is its strong anti-irregular migration message. The “Let Them Shine” campaign was inspired by the tragic story of a former Gambian female national team goalkeeper who lost her life while attempting the perilous “backway” journey to Europe in 2016.
Organisers said the tournament also served as a tribute to her memory, while encouraging young people—particularly female athletes—to pursue their ambitions through safer and lawful avenues.
The Vice President welcomed the delegation and commended the initiative’s dual focus on sports development and national priorities. He acknowledged the important role football can play in creating opportunities for young people and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote youth empowerment and discourage irregular migration.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening collaboration between Fulness Sports Academy and relevant government institutions to ensure that talented young Gambians are given the opportunity to shine on the international stage while contributing positively to national development.
As the final whistle blows on this year’s tournament, the message from Fulness Sports Academy remains clear: the road to success does not have to pass through dangerous migration routes—sometimes it begins on a football pitch at home.