“We are waiting for this case to be closed and at this time we will be suing our critics for slanderous denunciation”
Accused of embezzlement by malicious individuals, the first vice-president of the Malian Judo Federation, Colonel Abdoulaye Kéïta, granted us an interview in which he responds to the detractors of the federation, talks about the major challenges he intends to raise for the current mandate, the difficulties with which the federation is confronted and its relations with the National Olympic and Sports Committee of Mali (CNOSM).
Today-Mali: How is Malian judo doing today?
Colonel Abdoulaye Keita : Malian judo is doing somehow because there was a time when everyone was hit by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), this had a great influence on the activities of judo and then the country is also experiencing instability. which means that the highest authorities are committed to the restoration of peace. All this has an impact on the development of judo. Despite this, the discipline is doing somehow, we are making a lot of effort to supervise the young people so that our activities take place in the appropriate conditions, but in great difficulty.
What are the major challenges you intend to meet for the mandate?
During the last National Council of the Malian Judo Federation, we drew up an Action Plan which we are currently implementing. By way of illustration, our activities are carried out monthly with the support of Moov Africa Malitel.
Passing by, I salute the benevolence of the President of the National Olympic and Sports Committee of Mali (CNOSM), Habib Sissoko who kindly contacted Moov Africa Malitel so that all the sports federations could breathe financially because without money it is impossible to carry out activities. With these funds, we manage to carry out all our programs.
The current office is working on the emancipation of judo and its expansion from the first region to the last region of the country. This is our credo and we are fighting so that we can win medals away from home.
The Malian Judo Federation is accused of embezzlement. When is it?
You know, when you bring people together, the points of view are never the same. As a result, there are happy and unhappy. At the end of our last National Council, there are people who could not get into the office. They tried to form a conglomerate called “Association of judokas for emergence”. They came together to say that Malian judo is in great financial difficulty and that there has been a misappropriation of more than 100 million FCFA. On top of that, they started smearing the federal bureau members with the accompaniment of some hotheads. They are the ones who drafted this complaint to be addressed to the Public Prosecutor at the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Commune III.
When the judge is seized of an introductory indictment, he can only seize the investigation services. The Prosecutor seized it and sent the file to the Economic and Financial Pole. We are in this business more than a year ago and it is now that the members of the federal office have begun to be summoned, in particular the president, the president of the Organization Commission, the former president of the Commission of organization, the general treasurer, the general secretary. Many people were summoned to this level to explain themselves around this, but the merits of the thing, that the State does not give money to sports federations.
How are the funds of the Malian Judo Federation managed?
The money for funding judo competitions comes from Moov Africa Malitel through the National Olympic and Sports Committee of Mali (CNOSM). The funds are mobilized at the level of the CNOSM which makes them available to the federations in order to carry out their activities. Sponsorship funds with Moov Africa Malitel are deposited at the CNOSM accounting level.
At the level of the Malian Judo Federation, we meet to identify the monthly activity which may concern a cup or a tournament. These are the activities that are carried out across the country. In addition to this, there are exits to the outside. Often, we are supported by the president of the CNOSM.
Before each competition, we submit an estimate to the CNOSM accounting system and the agreed amount is made available to the federation to carry out the activity. Once the activity is completed, we collect the supporting documents to be submitted to accounting. Now, to be eligible for further funding in relation to another activity to be carried out, as long as these supporting documents do not meet the criteria, this federation will not be entitled to further funding in order to carry out another activity. In such situations, how can we speak of diversion? These are people who thought that within the federation, there is food and drink. I say in this matter, there is no offense or crime committed and then the fund in question does not come from the State. This is to tell you that there has never been any embezzlement at the federation. Our funds are managed with the utmost transparency.
Today, Moov Africa Malitel finds that the management of these funds is sound and the CNOSM does not blame us for anything. In addition, we are congratulated by our partners including the CNOSM. How individuals stand up because they didn’t get into federal office, so they extrapolate a complaint to attack members of federal office. We too are waiting for this case to be closed with a dismissal notice and at this time we too will be suing them for slanderous denunciation.
What difficulties do you face?
Today the Malian Judo Federation is facing a financial difficulty because, who says sport, says financing. Without money, you can’t do anything. The National Olympic and Sports Committee of Mali (CNOSM) is doing its best, but the State is not supporting us. What the CNOSM makes available to us is not enough. This is why I have personally canvassed sponsors outside of Moov Africa Malitel so that we can hold some of our activities well. These are Z-For Mining and ADO Equipment. It is initiatives like this that we are seeing, that is to say how we can go to other different sponsors of Moov Africa Malitel so that we can hold more activities and put young athletes in leg.
Tell us about your relations with the National Olympic and Sports Committee of Mali (Cnosm)?
You know, frankly the president of the CNOSM is a trustworthy person, a good partner, generous and sociable. He takes so many hits, if he considered that, he wouldn’t do anyone any good. It was he who approached Moov Africa Malitel and PMU-Mali so that these two entities could support the national sports federations so that they could hold activities. The man who makes such a decision, only God can pay him. With the CNOSM, our relations are in good shape. We wish that the Good God gives a very good health and a very long life to President Habib Sissoko so that he can continue to support Malian sport.
If you had one message to send to the world of judo, what would it be?
I would say to the world of judo to unite because it is only in cohesion that the desired goal is achieved. In the division, we will not gain anything, we who are at the level of the federal office, we are all of a certain age. We have a moral obligation to accompany our children, our grandchildren so that the gold medal so sought after for years can come to Mali. I call on young people to tighten their belts so that they can bring us this long-awaited medal.
Directed by Mahamadou Traoré
Source: Today-Mali
