Lamin Kaba Bajo, the President of The Gambia Football Federation, has strongly defended the reported D14.6 million cost of the Nyakoi Mini Stadium, insisting the project is worth its price amid growing public scrutiny.

Speaking during a media appearance at West Coast Radio, Bajo expressed frustration over criticisms of the facility’s cost.

“I am surprised and disappointed in that case because I can tell you 99% of those who are making that statements they do not step foot there. That’s a reality,” he said.

The GFF supremo challenged critics to physically visit the site before questioning its valuation.

“As good as you may be as a quantity survey, you should step your foot on the facility and then to able to quantify the value… But just look at the picture on the screen at your comfort zone and say this is not. I think I am so disappointed and even sometimes embarrassed by some quarters saying that.”

Kaba Bajo maintained that from the Federation’s standpoint, the valuation stands. “So as far as GFF is concerned, it’s worth the price.”

Beyond defending the cost, the GFF President alleged that certain groups are deliberately undermining the Federation and the Nyakoi project.

“There are two or three constituencies responsible for this,” he stated, adding that “a particular media house” has chosen to “write anything negative of the GFF to earn them more viewership and audience.”

The former Minister under Yahya Jammeh also pointed to “a certain section of the URR, Basse in particular,” claiming longstanding divisions within the football community have fueled opposition to the project.

“There is a group of people who think that they should be in the leadership rather than those who are elected… So those people anything good for Gambian football especially in URR is bad because they are not part of it.”

The remarks are likely to intensify the ongoing debate surrounding the Nyakoi Mini Stadium and its reported D14.6 million cost.

By Ebrima KB Sonko