Senegal President pays tribute to the 2015 AfroBasket Women champions
DAKAR - Senegal, the 2015 AfroBasket Women champions, couldn’t have finished the year any better.
After beating Cameroon, the hosts of this year’s African championship in October and securing the only automatic qualifying spot on offer for African teams for the 2016 Olympic Games, the 'Lionesses' received a major recognition from Senegal President Macky Sall.
On Monday 28 December, the Head of State hosted the new African champions at the Presidential Palace in Dakar, showing not only his generosity but also paying a significant tribute to the champions.
Macky Sall élève les Lionnes du basketball au rang d'officiers de l ... - S'informer en temps réel https://t.co/g8fMEBhlq1
— Basket France News (@BasketFrNews) December 29, 2015
As well as awarding players and members of the Senegalese delegation with a four-bed apartment each and a sum of money, Sall announced the construction of a modern sports hall in Diamniadio, on the outskirts of the capital Senegal.
The new infrastructure is expected to be concluded later next year.
Addressing the 12-time continental champions, Sall recalled that “with the talent, you do what you can but with the genius, you do what you want.”
Senegal (SEN)
Most of the 12 players, who helped Senegal win the African championship for the first time since 2009, attended the ceremony.
Aya Traore, who was named the tournament Most Valuable Player, thanked the initiative.
She said: “The President has received us, decorated and rewarded us.
It is a patriotic gesture that touches us a lot and this will motivate us even more. We are very happy about that - Aya Traore
Astou Traore, who led Senegal in scoring and won her first African title, said they are happy to have their sacrifice recognised. “This motivates us even more, but also the younger generation,” she explained.
Senegal Head coach Moustapha Gaye added: “We can only thank him [Sall] and tell him that next time we will do a lot more.”
Meanwhile, Babacar Gaye, Chairman of Senegal Basketball Federation, followed the appreciations speeches.
20 appartements de 4 pièces à 20 millions F Cfa aux Lionnes et 10 millions aux 27 membres de la...
Posted by Actusen.com : L'actualité au Senegal & dans le monde on Monday, 28 December 2015
“What he [the President] has given us, no one had done before. Allocating an apartment to the players and give them 10 million francs is something extremely important, very high.
“We are very happy and we are satisfied with that, the whole basketball family is happy and we really thank the President. This is a lesson for us to go and win more titles.”
FIBA
