It is an association which at first glance may seem intriguing: what has an African champion come to do in Bourges, a historic city in the center of France? It is the local football club that the 31-year-old winger came to visit this Saturday March 16 for the first time, as a majority shareholder and with a welcome worthy of a rockstar.
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This visit marks a new chapter in the already successful life of the native of Bambali, which promises to be rich in emotions, as evidenced by his welcome worthy of a hero.
Escorted to the back of the town hall, Sadio Mané cannot escape the few fans who have been waiting for him for several minutes. Improvised photo session just before attending a ceremony paying tribute to him in the town hall lounges. Dressed all in white, black cap screwed on his head, the Senegalese cannot contain his smile when, in turn, Yann Galut, the mayor of Bourges, then Cheikh Sylla, Franco-Senegalese president of the football club, shower him with compliments and thanks.
As soon as the ceremony ends, head to the Jacques Rimbault stadium a short distance north of Bourges. A setting which is not of the first youth, but with a well-kept lawn. Sadio Mané and his team take the time to settle down before releasing some information: “ We first discussed this project three, four years ago. It took a while, but it was thought through for a long time. For me, investing in France, in Bourges, is the ideal city and country », Explains the Senegalese striker in front of a few journalists and all of the club’s employees.
“We have lots of goals like playing leading roles”
Bourges is a friendly favorite with the president of the Bourges Foot 18 (BF18) football club: “ You know the president, Cheikh Sylla, he is Senegalese. He’s a friend of mine “, declared the footballer, before adding “ when Cheikh proposed it to me the first time, the idea was already ok. But we tried to take a step back and study the project carefully. » A carefully considered project, which germinated in 2020, when Cheikh Sylla met this star player of world football who will change his life.
After several official meetings and other endless meetings, it is with joy that Bourges welcomes its new boss, the president boasts: “ Sadio has a long-term plan, but he focuses on the present. Bourges is a stopover. He is someone who gives a lot, who wants to give back to football what he has given it. »
The 2022 African champion is not there to make up the numbers: “ We have lots of goals like playing leading roles, it’s early to talk about that, but we can get there “, explains the new majority shareholder in front of a crowd won over by his words. A Mané effect is already visible, Cheikh Sylla tells us: “ Since the arrival of Sadio Mané in Bourges, we have gone from 6 000 to over 100 000 followers on our social networks, our videos reach 800 to 900 000 views now. We have new visibility. »
“ Develop an academy in Senegal »
The simplicity of Bambali’s child was able to seduce in a few seconds all the young children of the club who were playing this Saturday on a side field, who were able to enjoy their new star for almost three quarters of an hour. No apparent security, the Al-Nassr attacker in Saudi Arabia likes proximity and he will have to get used to it. Just like the desire to create a solid bridge between two “brother countries” as he recalled: “ It’s not just football. Having an academy in Senegal, training young people there, bringing them to Bourges, that’s the idea “. And therefore allow young Senegalese gems to have the opportunity to evolve in France, as Sadio Mané did in Metz between 2011 and 2012.
The SM10 project in Bourges will not be limited to the field, warns Cheikh Sylla, a little moved: “ He started with Bourges, but of course, Sadio will help the young people of Senegal. He comes to Bourges, not just for the N2. He spent some time with the children, who were happy, and that’s what gives him pleasure. He makes us proud. »
A pride widely shared with the hundreds of supporters who came to encourage Bourges the same day for its Nationale 2 match – the fourth French division. Sadio Mané appeared on a podium in front of the public then on the pitch to give the fictitious kick-off of the match before sitting among the supporters in the stands to watch his team’s 1-0 victory against a team neighbor, simply.
“ He shows young Africans that anything is possible, that they can live their dream », Soberly concludes his new friend, Cheikh Sylla.
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