Dr Jackie Jeffrey and the Middlesex University students on 19 February paid a visit to Kanilai.

The delegation was accompanied by the Executive Secretary of the National Sports Council, Mamudou Max Jallow, and the Director of Youth and Sports, Pa Suwareh Faye.

On their arrival at Kanilai, members of the delegation were received with a warm welcome and later entertained by a cultural group.

In the same vein, the Kanilai Football Academy drew with the village team at a friendly match played at the community football pitch.

Speaking to Pointsports, Dr Jackie revealed their objective to set up a football academy of both male and female disciplines and some other projects the community would have been interested in.

"We will develop the academy in the way the community wants it and what we do is to share the skills and support to develop the academy," she says.

"What we are interested in is to develop a manageable team that can run independently."

She also said they would require qualified teachers to provide quality education to the children.

She says she wants to have equal movement between The Gambia and the UK to create more developments so that the country's partners would have the experience to help themselves.

The community is also urged to help them achieve their developmental objectives.

The delegation would also have cultural night with the community, visit Jarra Sankuya to explore the opportunity of establishing a rowing club.

The team will be led by Dr Jackie Jeffrey of Middlesex University and co-hosted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Sindola Hotel, the Kanilai and the Sankuya communities.