Many people have been following my story after it was announced that Guinea Bissau named me to its Olympic Team and the story appeared in Sports Illustrated. My plan was to use all the attention - my “15 minutes of international fame” - to call attention to the struggle of Guinea Bissau’s athletes and to appeal to the world to raise money to help develop the sports infrastructure in Guinea Bissau. I wanted to give the next generation of undiscovered athletes in Guinea Bissau opportunites beyond playing local soccer (futbol) and the dream of playing professionally in a foreign league.
This was my biggest challenge yet. But then I was blocked from competing in the Olympics and until now, the complete story was never told. After being detained in a Tokyo airport during the Olympics, I returned to Guinea Bissau to begin building the national swimmming program. I did manage to represent the country at the 14th African Swimming Championships, but controversery continued to follow me because of the corruption within Guinea Bissau and I was blocked from competing in the CANA Zone 2 West African Swimming Championships and the FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary starting on June 18th..
In previous articles, I tried to explain the overall condition of Guinea Bissau and Why I Am Always Fundraising. I’ve even explored the subject of swimming, money and global inequality, comparing the support given to the swimmers of Ukraine versus the lack of support given to the swimmers of Guinea Bissau.
Rather than merely complain, I’ve tried to make a positive change by establishing a legal swimming federation in Guinea Bissau and raising money through the Swimming in Guinea Bissau: Hope for a Nation GoFundMe campaign.
However, to anyone OUTSIDE of Guinea Bissau, the real situation of what happaned to me, how I was sabotaged by the Guinea Bissau Olympic Committee, seems totally incredible. I now realize that if I was going to authentically represent the athletes in Guinea Bissau, I had to suffer as they have suffered. So now I have prepared this compilation of recent news stories from within Guinea Bissau to help the world understand how athletes are suffering and to inspire people to help change the situation by donating to our fundraising campaign.
WRESTLING: GUINEA-BISSAU PARTICIPATES IN AFRICAN CHAMPIONSHIP WITHOUT GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
“The president of the Guinea-Bissau Wrestling Federation regretted this Saturday (14.02) the lack of government support in the country's participation in the African championship of the sport.
The national sports caravan leaves the country at dawn this Sunday, (15.05) towards Morocco, to participate in the competition that will take place from the 17th to the 21st of May in the city of El Jadida.
Contacted by the editors of O Golo GB, Bernardino Soares da Gama, president of the Wrestling Federation, said that the Athletes prepared in the worst situations, without the minimum conditions to guarantee a decent participation.
“Our preparation was not the best, we worked with great difficulties, without minimum conditions, which can guarantee a decent participation of the country”, revealed the sports director, then recalling that in the last edition of the tournament, his athletes won eight medals. For the country.
Bernal, as he is also known, said that the country should participate with eight athletes, but due to the lack of funds from the executive, it was reduced to six elements, under the support of the Guinea-Bissau Olympic Committee, which assumed to pay the tickets for six elements of the sports caravan. , with four athletes, a selector and the president. [Siphiwe Note: where does the Olympic Committee get funds????]
Guinea-Bissau will defend the title of African champion (gold medal) in the 65 kg category, won in the last edition (2020), by M'Bundé Kumba M'Bali, and runner-up, in the 57 kg category with Diamantino Iuna Fafé (Silver Medal). The other two are, Caetano António Sá in the 74kg category, a category usually disputed by Augusto Midana who will be absent from the competition this year, and finally, Bacar Midana, nephew of Augusto Midana, in the 70kg category.
Despite the difficulties, the leader of the organization that manages Luta Livre in the country assured that the athletes will do their best to obtain good results and represent Guineans with dignity.
“We will do our best, athletes will do their best to bring medals,” he said.
However, Da Gama asked for more attention from the State to the sport that brought the most medals to the country, because, as he said, the wrestling caravans do not cost the country much.
This is not the first time that they participate in international competitions without the support of the executive, despite the good results achieved previously.
©️ The GB Goal”
TEQBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IS AT RISK IN THE COUNTRY
“The president of the Teqball Federation of Guinea-Bissau, Afonso Henrique Djú revealed that his federation is in uncertainty regarding the national championship of the sport, whose realization is at risk.
The federative leader spoke at the end of April, exclusively to the portal O Golo GB, to talk about the delay in holding the championship of this modality in the country, on the occasion Henrique Djú pointed out the difficulties.
“We are at an impasse, because we had promised that we will hold a national Teqball championship, so that all the followers and athletes are waiting for us, and we are not able to meet their expectations until this time, but we have not stopped, we continue to do the technical work. For those who followed our beginnings so far, you will certainly remember the great tournaments we held here in the capital, as well as in the countryside, all with the aim of decentralizing the sport”, he began by underlining.
Djú also added that the work of his direction is so that people can practice the sport and later have enough teams that will participate in the national Teqball championship.
“We were able to achieve our objective. We already have an average of 26 teams. Since the beginning, any activity is supported by the International Teqball Federation, we believed that we would have national support, but so far we are not having it, so it is difficult to hold a championship without conditions, and this year it will not be possible to have a Teqball championship, and in the future we will be able to hold tournaments in different areas of the country, so that teams and athletes do not stand still”, guaranteed the young president.
For Afonso Henrique Djú, the lack of the championship will undoubtedly have negative consequences, because the athletes are currently stopped and are not training given the lack of competition, which in his opinion, should not happen, but taking into account the various scenarios which often happen “creates a demotivation for athletes”, promising that if their institution has the conditions, it will hold the national championship.
Regarding the support of the Guinean government, Afonso Henrique Djú said that his federation, until the moment of this interview, has not received the subsidies that the executive has been giving to the different federations, and he says he has expectations that his federation may, in the future, receive these sports funds.
©️ Camnate M'bundé”
PRESIDENT OF THE VOLLEYBALL FEDERATION – “THE VOLLEYBALL SEASON IS THE BEST”
“From what I know about the history of volleyball in the country, this season is going to be on another level, it is, without a doubt, one of the best moments of this modality”, began by saying the president of the Volleyball federation to Portal Desportivo O Golo GB.
As justification, Aladje Camará said: “We started the year with the conquest of the bronze medal, in January, in a tournament held in Gambia, where we showed the world that we have qualities. Another fact is the national championship that is taking place. The quality of the players, the spirit of competitiveness in the teams, is really fascinating. Although the country lacks the infrastructure or spaces to practice this modality, we are already doing something about it. In Canchungo, with the support of the local authority, we finance the rehabilitation of a camp, the same can happen with other areas of the country. Looking at these facts, I can say that we are meeting our goals and that Volleyball is experiencing one of its highest moments”.
“Our federation has an incredible desire to put volleyball at the top, maybe one day be in the same place as football, so we have the idea of holding tournaments at a national level and also one day introducing this modality in physical education, in schools. of the country, it is a project that we will work together with the General Directorate of Sports, we can gain space and one day reach an even higher level,” said Aladje Camará, who later lamented: ‒ “unfortunately, at this time, we have not received no support from either the government or the Olympic Committee. All our work is paid for by us. So I appeal to public and private institutions and people of good will to support our federation. To those who gave up practicing this sport, I ask you to come back, because we are already rescuing everything that is good in volleyball”, he assured.
© Mamadi N'Djai
NANJÓ DEFENDS THE CREATION OF A SOCIAL FUND TO SUPPORT FORMER FOOTBALL PLAYERS
“Former Guinean footballer Fernando Jorge Tavares Pinto (Nandjó) defended the need to create a social fund to financially support former footballers who are in a very critical state of health.
“It is necessary for us to see for the people who once made our football grow, there are several football veterans who spent their entire youth in football and who today are without the means to support their families and are in a poor health phase, taking into account several injuries. contracted in their previous moments. Not only players, there are also former referees, coaches who also need support after they have finished their careers”, defended Fernando Tavares Pinto in an interview with the Guinean sports portal FUT 245.
“Puntchan”, as he is also affectionately called, took the opportunity to launch a vibrant appeal to the Government, the Olympic Committee and the Football Federation to give a little support to the former footballers who were once very important to the country. . . .
©️ FUT245
CYCLING: GUINEA-BISSAU MULTI-SPORTS CLUB RECEIVES DONATION FROM SENEGALE PARTNER
A Senegalese cyclist who has already competed in international competitions on behalf of Guinea-Bissau, delivered this afternoon a kit of equipment for bicycles for the athletes of the Multi-Sports Club of Guinea-Bissau.
The donation comprises 10 inner tubes, 10 tires, two pairs of chains and two front derailleurs, estimated at around 100,000 CFA Francs.
In the interview with O Golo GB, Youssou Ndoine, said that he made the offer for the satisfaction of seeing Guinea-Bissau compete in international cycling competitions that did not happen in the past, and with the emergence of the multisport club, with the will to leverage the modality , being one of the athletes of the aforementioned club, he only has to support the initiative in order to take the project forward.
Asked why he decided to compete on behalf of Guinea-Bissau, through Clube Multidesportivo, Youssou Ndoine revealed that it was not due to the lack of a club or the quality of representing clubs from Senegal, his country of origin, but due to the great passion tro motivate new Guinean athletes to continue to be present in international competitions.
Satisfied with the offer, Wilson Ié, president of the Clube Multisportivo da Guiné-Bissau, acknowledged that the materials received arrived at an important time and will help the athletes who are preparing to participate in the international tournament in Mauritania in December.
Wilson Ié, also regretted the fact that the athletes were preparing the tournament in Mauritania without minimum conditions, although he recognized the effort and openness of the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports.
According to the perspective, the national caravan should leave Guinea-Bissau for Mauritania on the 7th of December to participate in the international event that will bring together 12 countries on the African continent.
It should be noted that this is the Senegalese athlete's second donation to the Guinea-Bissau Multi-Sports Club. In July, he offered a pair of equipment to the national caravan that was representing the country at the international tournament in Thiès, Senegal.
© Goal GB”
“The Portuguese Guilherme Farinha ended in March the functions of national technical director of the Football Federation of Guinea-Bissau (FFGB), in the face of divergences in the work routines with the entity led by Carlos Teixeira .
“I saw that FIFA's money was going to situations other than the development of Guinea-Bissau. By ethics, I really like to respect the decisions of my hierarchy, but what is combined and programmed has to be fulfilled. I felt a lot of affection from the people. People still want me there today, write to me and call me, but the only thing I had to do was tell President Carlos Teixeira that it was enough for me," he shared.
The Lisbon coach, who even guided the federative leader in Praiense (1995/96) and the Guinean national teams, admitted in public that there are "several blockages" to his work, statements that fell badly in the FFGB and accelerated his dismissal two months ago.
"I couldn't work this way, because I really like the discipline, the organization and plan the work. I see that Guinea-Bissau has talent and possibilities, even though it is a country with two million inhabitants and 34 square kilometers. For me, it was a very great disgust and revolt to see a nation with a talent to reach the final stages of the tests giving priority to other situations. As such, my time is up," he noted.
©️ News by Minute and Lusa
KATIUSCIA YASMIRA: FROM FUTSAL TO THREE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN JIU-JITSU
“6 - How does it feel to represent Guinea-Bissau in major competitions?
A feeling with no explanation possible. I feel useful and in a way very happy to take the flag of my country to the high podiums.
7 - Are you thinking of taking this modality to Guinea-Bissau?
Yes, I'm taking care of it and it will be soon.
8 - Have the Guinean authorities ever contacted you when you started representing the national colors?
No, because unfortunately it is a country that prefers to put political problems in first place.
©️ Benazira Djoco – UNIESP PB”
FEDERATION COMPLAINS OF THE GOVERNMENT THE SAME FINANCIAL TREATMENT GIVEN TO THE OTHER FEDERATIONS
The Guinea-Bissau Wrestling Federation demanded from the executive the creation of identical "financial" conditions for all national sports federations, depending on the results in international competitions, representing the Guinean nation.
Bernardino Soares da Gama maintained that it is essential to promote national sports federations that bring positive results to Guinea-Bissau….
According to explanations by Soares da Gama, despite the financial difficulties, in the last three editions of the African Wrestling Championship (2019, 2020 and 2022), national athletes were able to bring 11 medals from the international competition to Guinea-Bissau.
Although the national caravan has participated in this competition on the African continent without financial support from the executive, the federative leader assured that he does not feel discouraged and will continue to dignify the country in international events.
By: Alison Cabral”
Wrestling Federation reveals that Guinean athletes are harassed by other countries
“The president of the Wrestling Federation of Guinea-Bissau (FLGB), João Bernardino Soares da Gama, revealed that national wrestling athletes have received invitations to compete on behalf of other countries in international competitions, due to lack of conditions. He added that none of these intentions were materialized, because “patriotism weighed heavily in the decisions of national athletes in this modality, who have won many medals for Guinea-Bissau for several years”.
“There have been constant requests from our athletes. Augusto Midana and Diamantino Luna Fafé received requests. They are young athletes that impress any manager or sportsmen who follow this sport”, he said, then alerting that it is a risk that Guinea-Bissau continues to face, due to the lack of support for national athletes”, he said.
“We continue to raise awareness among wrestling athletes to continue to compete on behalf of the country, but there will come a time when athletes will not accept the advice of the federation’s leaders and will fight for better living conditions”, underlined João Bernardino Soares da Gama. .
The federative leader stressed that the athletes are simply demanding improvements in working conditions, especially at the level of international competitions, where they represent the Guinean nation, ending up bringing medals to Guinea-Bissau.
Gama stressed that, despite the success that Guinea-Bissau has had in this modality, the body he directs has a debt of 7 million CFA francs with the International Wrestling Federation, following his absence from the 2021 World Championship in Norway. . With this debt, the country has not received technical and financial assistance from the organization that directs the sport at a world level.
In view of these facts, he expressed concern about the situation, however, he stressed that the Guinea-Bissau Olympic Committee (COGB) is making arrangements with the International Federation to repay the debt in question. [Siphiwe note: Where/how does the Guinea Bissau Olympic Committee get money???"]
“The wrestlers don’t deserve to go through all this and the country must stop begging, we all have to work to create conditions for the wrestling federation, because the results are visible to everyone's eyes”, he said.
Gama also revealed that the wrestling federation will fight for the executive to be able to set a monthly salary to Augusto Midana for the success achieved in international competitions, representing the Guinean nation. Available data indicate that the athlete won 20 medals for Guinea-Bissau, 10 of which are gold.
The national athlete participated in the four Olympic Games, although he never managed to win the first Olympic medal for Guinea-Bissau.
Handball: NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE FIELD CATEGORY STARTS ON JUNE 18
“Indjai, who was speaking on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, in an interview given to the sports section of Jornal O Democrata, with the aim of addressing issues related to the beginning of the season in this modality, revealed that the championship will be held in a format of zones and the final will be held in national playoff games to know the winner.
“We hope it will be a good sports season for Handball, like last year, which was a very good season in terms of competitiveness and which was very strong, with the increase of teams and the participation of some handball school institutions”, he said. .
On the occasion, the federative leader regretted the delay in relation to the start of the national championship of the sport, due to the late release of funds to the four federations, Wrestling, Track and Field, Handball and Volleyball, by the government, to attract new talents for the 2021-2022 season. within the scope of the strategic plan for the development of sport.
“Since December 2021 a work program has been signed with the executive, four federations have been selected, including ours, and an amount of 12 million CFA francs has been stipulated with defined lines of actions that we will develop, but so far we have not received nothing and we waste time, because we have already carried out several activities without government support”, explained Indjai.
Asked where FAGB will seek funds to organize the youth and junior championship competitions, since the executive has not made the funds he had promised, Indjai revealed that the body has received support from the National Olympic Committee and the direction has already sent a letter to institution to apply for financial support. [Siphiwe Note: Where/How does the Guinea Bissau National Olympic Committee get funds????]
Indjai added that in addition to financial support from the Guinea-Bissau Olympic Committee, members of the FAGB executive board subsidized some expenses during the competition.
“The president of Sporting Clube da Guiné-Bissau this Thursday accused the direction of the Guinea-Bissau Football Federation, led by Carlos Alberto Mendes Teixeira, of having managed very badly the funds donated by FIFA and CAF and without clear justifications.
Ricardo Pascoal Caetano spoke about the events of the extraordinary congress of the entity, held last Saturday, from which the Report and Accounts of the last sports season 2021/2022 was approved, but without a vote from his club.
“The federation spent 279 million, 454 thousand and 312 CFA francs ($$35,677). He informed us that he spent 120,284,000 CFA francs alone ($187,526) on transport, foreign services, 340,309,000 CFA francs ($530,551), other charges, 421,158,000 CFA francs ($656,597)”.
“These are large amounts that, according to accounting rules, this expense had to have attachments. The federation simply lives off the subsidy that FIFA, CAF and UEFA makes available for sporting activities”, says the leonine official.
Having added that the sports entity received from FIFA 1 billion, 314 million and 193 thousand CFA francs ($2,048,864), from CAF, 138 million CFA francs ($215,145) and from UEFA, 21 million and 646 thousand CFA francs ($33,746) and other inputs, in a total of 3 million and 679 thousand francs ($5,735) totaling 1 billion and 678 million 483 thousand francs cfa ($1,678,483).
“How were these funds used? Because the federation aw (arded the national champion of the 2021/2022 season only 6 million CFA francs”, questioned the sports director.
Finally, Caetano also accused the current direction of the federation of being suicidal for national football, since the clubs are all lacking and in financial difficulties.”
THE GUINEA BISSAU NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
With the exception of the national sport of futbol, money for sports in Guinea Bissau is controlled by the National Olympic Committee.
Mr. Sergio Mane has been the either the Secretary General or the President of the Guinea Bissau National Olympic Committee since its inception in 1992 - that's thirty years. In 1996, Guinea Bissau competed in its first Olympics sending 3 athletes. In 2000 it sent 3 athletes, in 2004 it sent 3 athletes, in 2008 it sent 3 athletes, in 2012 it sent 4 athletes, in 2016 it sent 5 athletes and in 2021 it sent 4 athletes. That’s an average of 3.6 athletes per Olympics.
How does someone hold the position of President for 30 years - longer than any official in Guinea Bissau, with such poor job performance??????
A very important question is: where does the money come from to pay Mr. Sergio Mane’s salary, frequent travel, and staff??? What is the budget and how much of that is used for actual sports programs???
On November 6, 2020 I receveided two letters, one from the Guinea Bissau Swimming Federation and one from the National Olympic Committee promising me full support.
In December, I flew to Guinea Bissau at my own expense and met with Mr. Sergio Mane at the National Olympic Committee Headquarters. Based on this meeting and his promise of support and goodwill, I made the committment to come and train in Guinea Bissau in preparation for representing the country in the Olympics in Tokyo. In June of 2021, I met with Mr. Sergio Mane at the National Olympic Committee Headquarters to discuss competing in the Olympic qualifying event in Cairo, Egypt June 26. Now that I was a citizen of Guine Bissau, Mr. Mane agreed to pay my training and travel expenses. I did compete in Egypt, using my own money on condition that the National Olympic Committee would reimburse me upon my return, but never received any money from the National Olympic Committee.
Left: Sergio Mane; Middle: Siphiwe Baleka
I have also met with three different Ministers of Sport since January 2020, Prime Minister Nunio Gomes Nabiam who approved the funds for my travel expenses to the 14th African Swimming Championships in Accra, Ghana (which I never received), and with President Umaro Sissoco Embalo himself. Despite all their smiles in my face, all their promises, I have yet to receive a penny or a Certificate of Recognition as the President of the Guinea Bissau Swimming Federation.
Minister of Sport Dionesio Peirera
Minister of Sport Augusto Gomes
Letter from the Ministry of Finance notifying the Minister of Sport Fernando Dias that the Prime Minister has approved the funds for the 14th African Swimming Championships.
WHAT CAN BE DONE NOW FOR GUINEA BISSAU’S ATHLETES?
Because of my unique background, connections to United States Swimming and my recent election to the Presidency of the Guinea Bissau Swimming Federation, we can side-step the corruption of the National Olympic Committee which seems to be controlling the money, by crowndfunding. My plan is to set an example and show proof-of-concept to the other federations that it is possible to raise money from outside of Guinea Bissau and it’s established networks. We can have a MAJOR impact on the entire country if Americans, especially athletes, take advantage of this unique moment and donate to the Swimming in Guinea Bissau: Hope for a Nation GoFundMe campaign. If we can quickly raise the $10,000 fundraising goal, I can approach the Association of Sports Federations in Guinea Bissau with this proof-of-concept. We can then make a single, unified fundraising campaign to raise funds for ALL the federations instead of each federation fending for themselves. We’ve already started funding youth sports programs, having contributed $1,000 to The Sociedade Desportiva da Guiné-Bissau (S.D.G.B) through our Supporting Girls Sports in Guinea Bissau GoFundMe campaign.
Now we need everyone to donate $5 or $10, or, for those who can afford it, $1,000 and $5,000, to help fight corruption and transform this country through sports. Forward this post to your local media and to the athletes that you know. This can become one of the great sports stories of 2022, showing that the world cares about the athletes in the smallest and poorest of countries and is willing to promote global sportsmanship in the Olympic spirit.
LET’S MAKE IT HAPPEN!