Senegalese Coaching Legend Calls for Leadership Change in National Canoeing
A prominent Senegalese canoeing coach, Ousmane Fall, has joined calls for the resignation of federation President Ady Fall, echoing concerns raised by the federation’s secretary general. Fall, a key figure in Senegal’s recent competitive successes, believes a change in leadership is crucial for the sport’s future.
fall’s impassioned plea highlights years of alleged mismanagement within the Senegalese canoeing and rowing federation. He stated, “We raised the colors of senegal high. But we don’t have enough. We have been under the presidency of people who manage poorly for 30 years. We have participated for nine editions, as we have not trained enough coaches. There is injustice and mismanagement at the federation level. Regrettably,no one speaks,for fear of being left out. There are a lot of people who lack skills. These are things that we must overcome. Ady must have been gone for a very long time. His departure would be for the well-being of canoeing. And today we appeal to the Minister of Sports. We need to change, especially as there are events coming up, especially for the Youth Olympic Games,” expressing deep frustration with the current state of affairs.
The coach further lamented the impact of this alleged mismanagement on young athletes. He noted, “A lot of young people have given up, because they haven’t seen any change for 30 years. The canoe is not moving forward.We must stop favoritism and privileges. We extend our hand to all Senegalese people. We already had a lot of problems preparing for the last Olympic Games, but we managed to train champions. To have other Edmond Sanka or Combé Seck,this bad governance must really stop and the current president must leave.” This underscores the urgency of the situation and the potential loss of talent due to ineffective leadership.
Fall’s comments reflect a broader concern about the need for improved governance and openness in sports organizations, a sentiment echoed in many countries, including the U.S., where similar issues have plagued various athletic federations.The call for Ady Fall’s resignation underscores the importance of accountability and effective leadership in fostering athletic success and nurturing young talent.
The situation in Senegal’s canoeing federation serves as a reminder of the critical role effective leadership plays in the success of athletic programs worldwide.
