Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL) – The Gambia Football Federation (GFF), in collaboration with FIFA, continues its Talent Development Scheme Project (TDS) with a focus on grassroots talent identification. The project aims to scout and nurture young football talents across various communities in The Gambia.

In the Central River Region (CRR), the organizers recently screened 163 U13 players from communities such as Bansang, Sukurr Kunda, Sololu, Jamagen, Dumasu, Pipeline, Angalfuta, Mabaly, and others. The screening process is part of the broader effort to reach out to stakeholders and identify potential young footballers at the grassroots level.

The project organizers, along with technical coaches, are set to visit other communities in CRR and beyond to continue the search for talented young players. Led by Mr. Ebrima Nyassi, GFF Grassroots and Youth Manager, and Coordinator for Regional Coaches Mr. Lamin Sambou, the delegation also includes Regional Coach Mr. Baboucarr Boriss Demba.

During these visits, the coaches will conduct drills focusing on passing and ball controlling, followed by small-sided games to assess the technical abilities of the young athletes. The aim is to identify talents for further development programs, including both male and female players under the age of 13 and 15 years old.

The GFF’s Talent Identification Scouting program is part of FIFA’s youth development initiatives, with the ultimate goal of setting up national teams for U-13 and U-15 categories. Players identified through this program will have the opportunity to transition into the national U-17 and U-20 teams in the future.

The Talent Identification Scouting program began on April 20th, starting in various communities in different regions, beginning with the North Bank Region. This program underscores the commitment of the GFF and FIFA to grassroots football development in The Gambia, providing young players with the opportunity to showcase their talents on a national stage.