STATEMENT DELIVERED BY
H.E SHEIKH PROFESSOR ALHAJI DR. YAHYA A J J JAMMEH PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA
ON THE OCCASION OF
THE ARRIVAL OF FIFA WORLD CUP TROPHY IN THE GAMBIA
WEDNESDAY 7TH OCTOBER 2009
• Her Excellency, the Vice President
• Madam Speaker
• My Lord Chief Justice
• Honourable Ministers
• Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps
• Representatives from the Coca-Cola Company
• Our Honoured and Distinguisged Guests from FIFA here with the FIFA World Cup Trophy
• Venerable Religious Leaders
• Sefoolu and Alkaloolus
• Members of the Sporting Fraternity
• Fellow Gambians
Today is a special day for us in The Gambia in that for the first time in history, we are witnessing the passing arrival of the FIFA World Cup Trophy. Gambians everywhere feel deeply honoured by the opportunity that is presented by this symbolic event.
In receiving the Trophy, I would like to thank first and foremost, the Almighty Allah for the safe arrival of the Trophy here in The Gambia, and for making us all witness the event, which is in every respect, a life-time opportunity. On behalf of all Gambians, who today are truly proud and honoured, I wish to express profound thanks and appreciation to Coca-Cola, a company that we in The Gambia are associated with for many years. Our thanks and appreciation go also to FIFA, the world's football body, for allowing this authentic version of the World Cup Trophy, to travel to The Gambia on its historic journey to other parts of the world, including Africa.
Fellow Gambians
For us in The Gambia today, the presence of the Trophy brings hope and a fostered dream as a people with great fervor for sports in general and football in particular. In short, the arrival of the Trophy rekindles our passionate love for sport, in particular, football and our realistic dream to win this coveted trophy One Day. Now that it has landed on Gambian soil as a guest, it will one day be ours by the grace of the Almighty Allah. Our strategic objective in any sport including football is to win the highest trophy in the world.
Fellow Gambians
As you all know, The Gambia is now a recognized nation in the game of football, and our international recognition is today further evidenced by our hosting the world's most contested Trophy not only in history, but also in our generation.
We are indeed indebted to Coca-Cola, a company that has close to fifty years existence in The Gambia.
Fellow Gambians
Although The Gambia is not competing in the 2010 World Cup, the arrival of this Trophy on our soil represents a hope that The Gambia will not only participate in coming World Cups, it will, by the Grace of Allah, and with the same determination and courage that saw us through as the winners of the Under-17 World Champion held in Algiers in 2008, also again surprise the world by winning the competition and retain this very Trophy before us today. The world should watch out as we are coming.
On this note, and again with profound thanks and appreciation to the organizers of this great event, I have the singular honour to receive and present on behalf of the Government, and on my own behalf, this great authentic, golden World Cup Trophy.
I wish you all well and I thank you for your kind attention.