During this month of May, judo competitions begin with the African championship from May 26 to 29, 2022. But until then and to everyone’s astonishment, the standard-bearer of Congolese judo Marie Branser, not to mention not mention it, is still not aligned to competitions by the Congolese National Federation of Judo ”Fénacoju”.
For those who don’t know, currently only the president of Fénacoju hires athletes. Unfortunately, the situation remains confused at Fénacoju. The sword of Damocles hangs over the head of this last fault in the organization of the extraordinary and elective General Assembly. And since then nothing has worked. Two opposing camps camped on their positions. The ministerial authority which had taken things in hand to decant the crisis, is out of breath without leading to anything concrete. The situation remains unclear and therefore the situation of the athletes remains uncertain.
This is the case of Marie Branser, double African judo champion and direct qualification for the Tokyo 2022 Olympic Games, whose situation has hardly changed. All this despite all the correspondence addressed to Fénacoju, the Congolese Olympic Committee ”COC” and the Minister of Sports had remained dead letters. She and her trainer Petro Geres even went down to Kinshasa on Tuesday March 29, 2022. On site in Kinshasa, she met with officials from the Congolese National Judo Federation, the Congolese Olympic Committee ”COC” and the Ministry of Sports. and Recreation himself in person to clarify his situation. They returned in early May without a concrete solution.
Personal involvement of the Head of State more than desired
Contacted by us on the phone this Monday, May 16, 2022, Marie Branser replies that she unfortunately has no news to communicate to us. If it is only to inform us that she had written to Fénacoju to mean that if necessary, she agrees to pay her participation in the African championships. She agreed to do it all the more because she wants to defend her title. Curiously, despite his proposal, marble silence on the other side. She still doesn’t have a registration and if it doesn’t happen this Monday, tomorrow Tuesday and if not Wednesday, May 2022, 18, it’s going to be too late. And there, there will be no more African championships for her. Who can believe in such an eventuality?
This is an opportunity for us to address the Head of State Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo. Mr. President, we are here faced with a situation that has lasted too long. Congolese judo is on the edge of the abyss. In 48 hours, if we do not register Marie Branser in African judo competitions, the DRC will lose the rare pearl it holds in its hands. For the moment, it is really regrettable that this valiant athlete likely to glean titles and medals for the DRC, is abandoned to her sad fate to the point of even mortgaging her career. His love for the Congolese flag is well established. She remains attached to the Congolese nation and demonstrates it with each passing day. Since judo has been practiced in the DRC, it is Marie Branser who has achieved the greatest feat in Congolese judo history (Editor’s note having won two gold medals in the African championship and a direct qualification for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2022 ). In any case, Mr. President, the DRC can in no way lose a champion of the caliber of Marie Branser. If that happens, it’s a lèse majesté crime. Better is irresponsibility. In other words, it is a lack of nationalism on the part of those who will be at the base of this eventuality. Since it is not yet too late, Mr. President, it is necessary to instruct whoever is entitled to any ceasing business, to register Marie Branser and to settle her situation. It is the honor of the country that is at stake. Thanks to this brave girl, the Congolese flag floats and the national anthem resounds in the major international judo meetings. Time is running out, only 48 hours left for the clock to be set on time. Above all, let’s not forget that the DRC continues to chase after its first Olympic medal and that athletes of the caliber of Marie Branser are sought after to achieve this objective.
Antoine Bolia
