Amadou Jaiteh, a presidential aspirant, has allegedly been denied access to the Football House in Kanifing, prompting police involvement. The incident is reported to have occurred on Wednesday, 18th March.

According to Jaiteh’s account, the BST Galaxy FC Secretary General was at the Football House on official club duties when a GFF security officer allegedly informed him that he was not permitted to enter. He claims the directive came from Lamin Kaba Bajo, President of the Gambia Football Federation GFF and Lamin M. Jassey, the Federation’s Secretary General.

Amadou Jaiteh was subsequently picked up by officers from the Kanifing Police Post after he reportedly refused to comply with the alleged directive, following a report made by GFF officials.

When contacted, Baboucarr Camara, Director of Communication at the Football House, denied the claims. “Like I said, we don’t arrest anyone at the football house, much more a stakeholder. The football house belongs to the Members of the GFF, so why would we arrest anyone there?” He added, “I was at the GFF today, as usual, until closing time and I wasn’t aware of any incident there.”

However, an officer at the Kanifing Police Post confirmed that a case involving the GFF and Amadou Jaiteh was indeed reported, relating to an alleged denial of access.

The police further stated that both parties were advised to resolve the matter internally using existing GFF structures, noting that they could not intervene directly as Amadou Jaiteh is a stakeholder and a club representative.

The incident adds another layer of tension within Gambian football circles as the GFF presidential race continues to unfold.

By Ebrima KB Sonko