As part of preparation for the 34th Edition of the West African Liaison Office (WALO), a sub-regional body that coordinate military sports in West Africa, the Gambia Armed Forces on Sunday organised a wrestling trial between civilians and its members at the Gambia property for sale Serrekunda East Mini-stadium.

The trial, which brought together twelve wrestlers from the Armed Forces from which three will be selected for the upcoming event, was geared towards testing the team’s level of preparedness for the 34th Edition of WALO. The competition will run from 30 March to 10 April 2007.

In an interview with Pointsports, the Chief of Defence Staff, Col Lang Tombong Tamba, said the event being the first time to be hosted by the Gambia Armed Forces, is three-fold, namely the general assembly, the second edition of the football tournament, and the first edition of the wrestling competition.

According to CDS Tamba, the event which initially started with football is sponsored by the Malian president   Amadou Tumani Touray whilst the Gambian leader who has keen interest in wrestling, decided to sponsor the wrestling competition.

“Our wrestlers have been training for the past one week and I am really impressed with what I have seen here,” he said.

He also urged all Gambians to come forward to support the event.  “We should see this as a national event, this is not only the Armed Forces because if the Armed Forces excel in both football and wrestling, it is The Gambia that is going to be named,” he added.