Gambiaj.com – (VIKERSUND, Norway) – Young Gambians female football players are among over 30,000 children from 30 different nations participating in this year’s Norway Cup at Ekebergsletta, setting a record for the number of entries.

Sally Jatta and her team Scan Aid Football Academy from The Gambia are especially excited about the opportunity to compete in Norway. “We are here to win gold, that is our dream. We have come a long way, from The Gambia to Norway; it is not an easy journey,” says Sally Jatta.

This year marks the first time Sally and her teammates will play in the Norway Cup. They are adapting to many new experiences, including the playing surfaces. At home, they are accustomed to bumpy gravel courts. “It is easier to play football here. We get better ball control and play better together. At home, it is very hard,” says Sally.

Ngoneh Sanneh, a teammate of Sally’s, has her sights set on a future in professional football. “My goal is to become a professional footballer so that I can help my family,” she says. Ngoneh plays for the Gambian Scan Aid Football Academy, which is participating in the Norway Cup for the first time.

Chairman Morten Skjelbred of ScanAid, which has been running schools in The Gambia for over 20 years, is as enthusiastic as the girls at the training facility in Vikersund. Ngoneh and her teammates are grateful for the opportunity to showcase their skills on an international stage. Skjelbred highlights the importance of experiences beyond the pitch during their visit to Norway. “They dream of winning but hope they get many other good experiences as well and learn about other cultures,” says Skjelbred.

Marthe Bøhler, the general secretary of the Norway Cup, expressed delight in the broad international participation. “We have 13 teams from Mexico, 12 from the USA, and around ten from Germany. It is fun to see that we are back to having such a diverse range of international participation. It means a lot when we can get representatives from different continents,” says Bøhler.

The Norway Cup not only provides a platform for young athletes to compete but also fosters cultural exchange and new friendships, making it a truly enriching experience for all participants.