A
delegation of Sports Journalists was in Dakar, on the invitation of their
counterparts, for the latter‘s annual sports awards night held on Saturday in
Dakar, Senegal.
The
delegation was led by Musa Sise, President of the Sports Journalists’ Association
of The Gambia.
Over
the years, the two associations have enjoyed fruitful cooperation. The two have
attended each other’s awards nights, which celebrate past and present sports
personalities in the respective countries.
As
part of efforts to strengthen the bond among the members through football, on
Friday, the two associations played a friendly football match, which ended in a
1-1 draw.
The
relationship between the two has been described, at the multilateral level, as
a role model for other bordering countries. Also in Dakar for the event was The
Gambia’s Sports Minister Hadrammeh Sidibeh.
Senegal
and The Gambia are also members of the global sports press association (AIPS),
founded in 1924.
This
week, AIPS announced some members of both associations as nominees for this
year’s Global Sports Media Award. It is in recognition of the nominees’
incredible journalistic works. Over 1500 submissions were received from sports
journalists around the world.
Sports
journalists Sulayman Bah of Foroyaa Newspaper, Omar Jarju of Chronicle, Lamin
Fadera of Afri Radio, John Mendy of West Africa Democracy Radio, Alieu Ceesay
and Baboucarr Sey, both of QTV Gambia are the nominees from The Gambia.
The
final winners will be announced in February during the AIPS congress to be
hosted in Budapest, Hungary.
On
the side-lines of the awards night, the two sports ministers of The Gambia and
Senegal, Hadrammeh Sidibeh and Matarr Bah respectively had a fruitful meeting
with the executive committees of both sports journalists’ association of The
Gambia and Senegal. The meeting focused on how to strengthen the relations
between sports ministries and the sports journalists for the promotion and
progress of sports in the two countries.
The
meeting took place at Terrou Bi Hotel in Dakar.
Both
Abdoulie Thiam and Musa Sise, Presidents of both associations renewed their
commitment to strengthening the already existing bilateral ties between the
associations and members.
Promoting
sports development is among the top agenda of the associations. However, this
will be difficult without the support of the sports ministries.
The
duo described sports as a uniting tool and a great contributor socio-economic
development of countries.
Abdoulie
Thiam, President of ANPS was full of praises for Senegalese Sports Minister
Matarr Ba for his support to his association.
Senegal’s
Sports Minister Matarr Ba, while acknowledging the role of sports journalism
for the progress of any sports in any country, urges his Gambian counterpart,
Hadrammeh Sidibeh, to recognise the sports journalists as critical partners.
He
implored on him to give all the needed support to SJAG. “I hope this will open
a new page in the SJAG-Sports Ministry relations.”
Minister
Ba said the two countries are one, but divided by colonial rule. According to
him, there is a possibility for The Gambia and Senegal to jointly host African
Cup of Nations and other sporting events.
“The
success of Senegal could not have been possible without the journalists. Sports
is an important tool to promote peace and unity in the region. President Macky
Sall has high regards for the sports journalists. Sports journalists are worth
supporting because there is nothing to unite two factions more than sports.
For
his part, The Gambia’s Sports Minister Hadrammeh Sidibeh, said there is a lot
his country can learn from Senegal’s success sport stories.
While
praising the SJAG President Musa Sise’s for his commitment to sports
development, he gave assurance of his support to SJAG.
“The
Gambia can gain a lot from Senegal, in terms of capacity building. He expressed
readiness to support the association to better promote sports. I am ready to
work with and support them.”
Musa
Sise, President of SJAG, thanked Matarr Ba for his humility and support to
sports journalism. “I hope the Gambia’s Sports Ministry will learn from their
Senegalese counterparts and give the needed support to the sports journalism.”
SJAG,
he told the meeting, is very, is very much committed to sports promotion and
development, while appealing for sports ministry to give support the body.
Present
at the ANPS awards night, included Coach Aliou Cisse, Baba Omar Traore,
President of Malian Sports Journalists’ Association, who were all recognised
with awards. Among the winners were Senegal and Liverpool forward Sadio Mane
and wrestler Modou Lo.
In
return, SJAG presented ‘koras’ as gifts to Senegal’s Sports Minister Matar Ba,
and Former ANPS President Mamadou Koume.
Source:
SJAG
