Ibrahima Sène, known as “Bira,” could say goodbye to his chair as president of the CNG after September 30, 2024, the end of his term. But Alioune Sarr’s successor has a record that, even if criticized by some players in the arena, could convince the Minister of Sports and allow him to run for a third term.
The man arrived on tiptoe on November 5, 2020. The then Minister of Sports, Matar Ba, pulled out of his hat a man who was unknown to the general public but who had still managed to make a name for himself in the arena with his position as president of the CRG (Regional Management Committee) of Kaolack. A teacher by training, Bira Sène was thus propelled to the forefront as the new president of the CNG, relegating contenders such as Mohamed Ndao Tyson and Issa Ndiaye to the background.
After two terms, the time has come to take a close look at the record of Bira Sène, who will officially leave office on September 30.
A “reformist” President even if…
Upon his installation, the President of the CNG had made it easy for wrestling players by reducing the cost of services. Bira Sène had thus reduced the price of the license for promoters in wrestling with strikes from 500,000 FCFA to 200,000 FCFA, also setting the price of the license at 75,000 FCFA for promoters in simple wrestling. The boss of the Senegalese Arena had also extended the same generosity to wrestlers who saw the cost of their license reduced to 5,000 FCFA (wrestling with strikes) and 3,000 FCFA (simple wrestling).
However, these measures so appreciated by the wrestling world will not last because two years after their implementation, there will be readjustments. For promoters, the license increases to 300,000 FCFA (wrestling with strikes) and 100,000 FCFA (simple wrestling) without forgetting the wrestlers who must now pay 10,000 FCFA (wrestling with strikes) and 5,000 FCFA (wrestling without strikes) to obtain a license. An increase that had also caused a lot of ink to flow and gave rise to some opposition to Alioune Sarr’s successor. Still with a view to modernizing Senegalese wrestling, the Bira Sène team is still making changes during the 2022-2023 season. These changes to the regulations have notably affected the conduct of fights and the overall organization of the National Arena. We are then witnessing a change in the duration of the fights, particularly the big fights, which are now two ten-minute rounds (2x 10) and an extension of five (5) minutes if necessary. Better still, to ensure that the risk of insecurity is limited before, during and after the wrestling galas, the CNG requires the organizers to respect the new measures which are, among others: End of the “face to face” at midnight, “Touss” choreography of the wrestlers upon their arrival, kick-off of the preliminary fights at 4:15 p.m., establishment of a time slot and a space for the sponsor(s) of the day, kick-off of the big fight at 7:15 p.m.
Integration of the small category into the Flag of the Head of State, expansion of bonuses to the round of 16 (single wrestling), Organization of the African “Beach Wrestling” championship
The positive points of Bira Sène’s record do not stop there. His team, which had to organize four Flags of the Head of State in Diourbel (2021), Kaolack (2022), Saint-Louis (2023) and Mbour (2024), brought something new to the 23rd edition in Saint Louis with the integration of the small category in the individual and team competition. This decision was taken with the aim of allowing young Senegalese athletes to prepare for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) which will be hosted in Dakar in 2026.
One of the major facts of Bira Sene’s record is also the organization of the 2nd edition of the African Beach Wrestling Championships last June at the National Arena. With the participation of 33 African countries, Dakar had succeeded in the challenge of organizing this competition that the capital hosted for the first time.
An endless “Lewtoo” with the tenors of the Arena and some promoters
However, the CNG President’s chair began to waver when the arena’s VIPs spoke out this season to denounce the excessive financial sanctions. With Gris Bordeaux at its head, the Association of Active Wrestlers stood up against Bira Sène’s administration, even calling on the Ministry of Sports to conduct an audit on the management of the CNG. Balla Gaye 2 went even further by calling the CNG members thieves. He was then summoned by the committee but never appeared before the regulations and discipline committee. Added to this, some promoters including Baye Ndiaye (Al bourakh Events) sounded the alarm and called on the CNG to come to its senses following the new regulations on the start time of major fights. Despite this pressure at the end of his term, Mr. Sène said he was confident about his future. On the sidelines of his last general assembly about ten days ago, the outgoing president thanked his colleagues before confiding: “in the area where Senegal will need me, I would say present.” But as a good Serer with the frankness that characterizes him, he wanted to respond to his detractors before perhaps handing in the apron. “There are some who have made serious mistakes and are in bad faith. People must know that these are leaders who are there and who know where to put their feet,” he hammered home.
Wiwsport
