Is he right?

Gambia's President Jammeh wants to ban football in rural areas during the rainy season.

It is at this time that the traditional "Nawetane" tournament grips the country.

Every community in the land enters a team in the event that is more popular than the national league.

But Jammeh says people, especially youths, should be farming during the rainy season, which lasts from June to October, to maximise agricultural production.

He believes football is a distraction that should only be permitted in the dry months.

Only the region around the capital Banjul is exempt, because there is little arable land.

Although few beleive that anyone will end up in prison if they are found playing football, it is expected that local officials in rural areas will halt the Nawetane tournament.

Does President Jammeh have a point, or is this politics gone mad?

I am not totally backing President Jammeh's decision here but I think priority should be given to farming, not football, because no-one can play on an empty stomach.

Fifa is not going to feed the people when they can't feed themselves Amos Johnson, Liberia

It's a good idea to use the the wet season for farming and the dry season for social activities like football. After all, Fifa is not going to feed the people when they can't feed themselves.
Amos Johnson, Liberia

I think the Gambian president deserves both critisism and praise. One should oppose the fact that he is taking himself to be the father of all Gambians, deciding on what they should and should not do. On the other hand people should recognise that work comes first and leisure after. But in order to get this into the heads of the people, threat is a bad option.
Radjabu, Denmark

How can a leader who claims to have vision for his country place a ban on football because of agriculture? Firstly it shows the level of abuse of human rights in Africa, and secondly, that the man has no solution to the supposed famine in that country. I urge him to gracefully bow out of office because the problem of that country seems to be above him.
vincent umeh, nigeria

In a poor country like Gambia football is an escape, a symbol of hope and a glimpse of a better world. It brings people together to forget pain. If you take that away from them you take away the spirit of your people. They should play this year, and arrange it next year to correspond with the dry season.
Tolu Agbebi, Nigeria

There's a time for everything. When it's time to farm, people have to be seen doing just that. They can change their traditional game to the dry season when the rains stop. When there is food in your belly, you'll surely play good football. Right direction Mr. President!
Gotorongs Tim Danchal Toy, UK

I think the president is absolutely correct,

Gambia is full of lazy people spending an absurd amount of time playing football Jimbo Jones, Gambia

Gambia is full of lazy people and there needs to be a focus on our people contributing to the welfare of our country rather then spending an absurd amount of time playing football or fightling wars.
Jimbo Jones, Gambia

There has never been any sport in human history that has brought people, communities, tribes and races together like football. Therefore, for a man, under the veil of being a President, to condemn playing football at any particular time of the day, month or year is absurd. Little wonder why football development in Africa is a herculean task. I think he should re-think his view. Football is a blessing, and not a curse.
Tokunbo Ishola, England

Banning football - or banning any leisure activities - for the sake of agricultural development simply does not make any sense. President Jammeh needs to concentrate on expanding the development of young people from different talents, not limiting them for the sake of ecoonomy. Secondly, Jammeh needs to expand its co-operation with Taiwan and tell its African counterparts that Taiwan is a country which has the solution in developing agriculture. I just don't think that banning football is a very sensible approach. One more thing, who is going to enforce the rule?
Sam Huang, Taiwan (now in the UK)

Before one is tempted to criticise the President, one needs to find out whether the tournament actually attracts the entirely rural population. Often, it is the youths who are involved who should normally be helping their parents in raising crops. Agriculture is the main-stay of Gambia's economy.

All work and no play is not good for the health Benedict Akeh, Cameroon

I think the President would have been correct if he had urged the tournament organisers to limit matches to the weekend. But banning football for the entire rainy season is absurb. All work and no play is not good for the health.
Benedict Akeh, Cameroon

Ignorance is a disease that is destroying Africa. Jammeh is indeed a leader without vision. Do him know football can unify a country? Ask Liberia's George Weah and Preisdent Taylor. What does football have to do with agriculture? Jammeh should be concerned about educating the masses and developing the country instead of banning football.
Seltue Karweaye, Liberian living in the USA

Without being disrespectful, I think the President has lost focus and is just trying to cook up excuses. Football is a catalyst that could be used to stimulate the youth in contributing more to the agricultural sector. Jammeh is trying to tow the infamous path laid by the late Ivorien strongman Gen. Robert Guei who sent the Elephants into a detention camp after their dismal 2000 Nations Cup.
Opeyemi Ajala, Nigeria

Gambia's President is typical of African leaders: self-centered and clueless in their daily actions in serving the people. What has football got to do with agricultural production?

Why is it that Africa continues to produce clueless leaders? Derick Agbontaen, USA

If this man is serious about increasing food production in his country, he should invest in equipment, provide fertilizers and create incentives to farmers i.e. interest-free loans, free medical treatment, free expertise and free education for farmer's children. Why is it that year-in year-out Africa continues to produce clueless leaders?
Derick Agbontaen, USA

That is just so dumb. To me it's like a barrier to development of any sort.
Bola, USA

The president is not trying to ban football or discourage it as some may think. He is just trying to help the youth as agriculture is the back-bone of the economy. Only the youth can help their aging parents to farm, and in turn help them pay their school fees. As a matter of fact the president has provided tractors and promised to provide more for the agricultural sector in order to self-sufficient. So people, especially those who are anti-government, want to use this forum to be negative and politicize the whole issue. The president is a lover of football and donates huge sums of money to football. So please let this forum die here.
Seedia N. Bojang, The Gambia

I don't think football games last a whole day. Being a typical African man, I know that in the rural areas, people go to the farm in the morning and come back to play football in the afternoon. So I do not agree with the Gambia president who wants to ban a rural competition or tournament because of farming.

If he is so keen on developing agriculture he should make fertilizer available Dovi Charles, Nigeria

Rather if he is so much interested in developing the agricultural sector he should finance it by buying state-of-the-art equipment and support the process by making fertilizer available at cheaper rates for those involved. That way, there will big crops at the end the season.
Dovi Charles, Nigeria

I want you to help me ask the Gambian President. Is football the only recreational activity or the only sporting activity in Gambia? He should as well stop the youths from watching T.V. during the farming season.
Iboro Esiet, Nigeria

Since 1994, Gambian football hasn't progressed at all. Rather, its gone backwards. The government of today doesn't contribute to the development of football and the president can only open his big mouth to say no football in the rainy season. Shame on you! We Gambian's are aware that you don't want to embrace the game.
Ballack, Banjul

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