DAKAR, December 10, 2019 - The National Sport Press Association of Senegal (ANPS) awarded the “Ballon d’Or Senegal” 2019 to Sadio Mané during its annual gala held on Saturday December 7th, 2019 at the Museum of Black Civilizations in Dakar.
The Liverpool striker was unanimously recognized by Senegalese sport journalists as the best of the 2019 season. This is the sixth consecutive time he has won the trophy since 2014. And the country’s Minister of Sports Matar Ba was full of praise for the 27-year-old during the awards ceremony.
“We congratulate Sadio Mané for this award, which is not a surprise. It has been well deserved. The surprise came more from across the Atlantic when we discovered with amazement, but with fair play, the rank assigned to him,” said Matar Ba.
In fact, the Senegalese in their majority had criticized the choice of Lionel Messi as the winner of the Ballon d’Or 2019 at the expense of Sadio Mané who, according to them had made a much better season and deserved more than 4th place.
“Mané is the Ballon d’Or winner in our hearts. He is not only a talented football player, but he is also a great humanist, and his investment in social and economic development surpasses all records,” the Minister of Sport added.
Absent from the award ceremony, Mané, in a video, received the honour with great satisfaction and expressed his gratitude to the Senegalese sports press.
The trophy of the best athlete named after Olympic medallist Amadou Dia Ba
The ANPS 15th gala was very innovative, with the association naming the different trophies awarded. The trophy for the Ballon d’Or Senegal won by Sadio Mané is now named after Jules François Bocandé, a former Senegalese football player who died on 2013. The trophy for the best athlete of the year won by Judoka Mbagnik Ndiaye is named after Amadou Dia Ba, a former athlete and only Senegalese who has won an Olympic medal so far. The trophy for the best local football player received by Jean Barthélmy Diouf is named after Ibrahima Coulibaly, the best scorer in the history of the Senegalese championship. The trophy of the best wrestler won by Modou Lô was named after Abdourahmane Ndiaye Falang.
This naming approach aims to encourage young people to strive for excellence by following in the footsteps of their predecessors. And according to the Minister of Sport, it gave the gala an unparalleled dimension and influence. “The common denominator of these sports personalities is excellence. So giving their names to the awards is a good idea that breaks with habits,” Mr. Ba said
It is also a way for ANPS to pay tribute to them. “In Senegal we have athletes who deserve to be immortalized,” said Abdoulaye Thiam, who explained this innovation.
Special trophies were awarded to managers, coaches and sport journalists for their service to Senegalese sport. This is the case of coach Aliou Cissé who was rewarded. ANPS also honoured Amadou Galo Fall, president of the Basketball Africa League as an example of self-sacrifice and success by making him the godfather of its 15th Gala. “Our commitment is to our youth because it is our greatest heritage. We must continue to invest in this youth,” Amadou said. In this sense, he promised to do everything possible to ensure the success of the 2022 Youth Olympic Games.
ANPS promotes African integration
Apart from recognition and rewards, ANPS is committed, through its annual gala, to creating a more just and fraternal society. A fraternity materialized by the presence of associations of sports journalists from Gambia, represented by its president Musa Sise - who was accompanied by a strong delegation - and from Mali, represented by its president Oumar Baba Traoré.
The gala was preceded by a football match between Gambian and Senegalese sport journalists which ended in a 1-1 draw. Beyond the results, this match contributes to the consolidation of sub-regional sporting integration between these countries, which have committed themselves to providing mutual support for the success of their events. This initiative was welcomed by the sports ministers of the two countries, Matar Ba of Senegal and Hadrammeh Sidibeh of Gambia, both present at the Gala Award. ANPS awarded a special trophy to both the Gambian and Malian sport press association presidents to thank them for making the relationship alive and stronger. Gifts were also exchanged between the sports ministers of Senegal and Gambia.
List of the Best athletes of the year by ANPS
Sadio Mané (Liverpool): Ballon d’or Senegal, Jules François Bocande Award
Mbagnik Ndiaye (Judo): Best Athlete, Amadou Dia Ba Award
Modou Lô: Best wrestler, Abdourahmane Ndiaye Falang Award
Jean Louis Barthélemy Diouf (Generation Foot): Best local football player, Ibrahima Coulibaly Award
Mohamed Bayo (Malika Team): Best traditional wrestler
