Gambian Cyclists off to ECOWAS cycling Tour set to take off in Lagos
- Monday, 13 February 2012
- Written by Modou Lamin Beyai
No fewer than 250 cyclists from the 15-member nations of ECOWAS will take part in the second ECOWAS International Cycling Tour which will flag off on 15 February in Lagos, Nigeria.
A statement from ECOWAS said the event would take place from 15 to 19 February with competitors criss crossing five countries – Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. The race, which would cover a total distance of 450 kilometres, will terminate at Abidjan, the Ivorian capital, on 19 February.
The Gambia will be represented by the Gambia Cycling Association and they’ll be sending four cyclists, two coaches, a cycling representative and a head of delegation from the Ministry of Youths and Sports. The Gambian delegation is headed by Pa Suwareh Faye of the Ministry of Youths and Sports, Edrisa Sah is sent as the cycling representative, head coach Modou Njie is joined by his assistant Kalilu Sanneh and the cyclists are Buba Jobe, Musa Fatty, Sulayman Colley and Amadou Bah. They’ve already left the Banjul International Airport for Lagos.
According to the statement, the international event will be in four stages – Lagos - Cotonou; Cotonou - Lome; Ada - Accra and Abuaso - Abidjan -- and prize-monies and trophies will be awarded to winners at the various stages of the race.
The overall tour winner, the team standing, the fastest cyclist and the best young cyclist will be rewarded. The statement added that there would be three motorised transfers in the course of the race, indicating that each of the 15-member nations would be expected to field a team of six cyclists and five officials.
Meanwhile the Gambia Cycling Association [GCA] has said that if additional funds are raised before the tour kicks off on Wednesday, the cycling representative and two other cyclists will join the team.
The statement quoted Mr. Francis Njoguani, the Director of ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre, as saying that this year’s tour followed the maiden edition held in 2009 over the Lagos to Accra route.
It said the international cycling tour was initiated by the ECOWAS heads of state to further the ECOWAS ideals of regional integration and free movement of persons as a tool to actualize the ECOWAS vision 2020 of transforming from an ‘ECOWAS of states to an ECOWAS of people’.
This year’s tour is financed by the ECOWAS commission. The statement said, however, that member states had been mandated to source sponsors for the leg of the race which passes through their respective countries.