The African Olympic movement has chosen a new leader. He is Algerian. Mustapha Berraf, 64, was elected president of the Association of African National Olympic Committees (ACNOA) on Thursday, November 29 in Tokyo. He succeeds the Ivorian Lassana Palenfo, forced to give up a new mandate last year after the CAS annulled the last election.
With four candidates for the seat of president, the vote promised to be close. And many promised an extraordinary general assembly of ANOCA shaken by turbulence. In Tokyo late Thursday afternoon, none of this happened.
The only half-surprise, preceded by the rumor since the day before: the withdrawal of the Botswana Negroes Kgosietsile just before the election. The race was reduced to three candidates: Burundian Lydia Nsekera, Algerian Mustapha Berraf, interim president for twelve months, and Cameroonian Hamad Kalkaba Malboum.
In the first round, the Algerian came within one vote of winning. Of the 54 votes cast, Mustapha Berraf collected 27. Lydia Nsekera totaled 16. With only 11 ballots in his name, Hamad Kalkaba Malboum packed up.
The second round confirmed the trend. 34 votes for Mustapha Berraf, 20 for Lydia Nsekera. The postponement of the votes was more favorable to the Algerian leader. Representatives of the African Olympic movement had the choice between change and continuity. They preferred the second option.
Moved to the point of searching for words, the new president of ANOCA barely shortened a speech in the form of thanks. Then he answered questions from FrancsJeux.
FrancsJeux : What does the election score inspire you?
Mustapha Berraf : It reflects the choice of voters. I have always campaigned within ANOCA, for 5 mandates now. I have always been loyal to its members. But today there was neither winner nor loser in this election. Only sport won. A fraternal state of mind reigned during our general assembly, imbued with an atmosphere of serenity. People chose continuity. They expressed their wish to see ANOCA continue its momentum. We experienced some malfunctions, but they have been resolved. A new stage begins for ANOCA. We have already allocated a budget to enable the best African athletes to achieve great performances at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
What are you going to change in the functioning of ANOCA?
I want to change the method. I want to give ANOCA a participatory mode of operation. We must modernize our operations to give ANOCA a fresh start. I attach great importance to a mode of governance based on transparency.
How will you organize your mandate as president of ANOCA?
I want to devote as much time as possible to it. But with new management and communication techniques, everything can be managed remotely.
What is the urgency today for ANOCA?
The African Games in Morocco in 2019, in Rabat and Casablanca, with 21 sports and a very international dimension. After 10 years of negotiations, we obtained an agreement with the African Union and the African confederations. It gives us the powers of management, organization and marketing of the event. We will need all the skills and all the experts. But I am convinced that Africa does not lack it. It’s time to give a chance to people who want to express themselves and prove their worth.
With less than a year to go, how are the 2019 African Games shaping up?
We have this urgency, but Morocco has a lot of resources, great experience and sufficient facilities to give the African Games the dimension they deserve. But this event is not the only one on our calendar. We must also prepare for the African Youth Games in 2022 in Lesotho, and the first African Beach Games in Cape Verde. There is no shortage of work. But Africa has the talent and skills to meet the challenge.
