Hassane Fousseni Nadey, Benin: Everything is possible if there is a will to succeed and move forward

On Wednesday November 4, 2020, the 1st School Youth Mas-Wrestling Tournament of the College № 1 took place in Wolf Omnisport Academia in the town of Bassila, the capital of the municipality. At the beginning, an introductory course about Mas-Wrestling rules was given to the competitors and to the referees. Very attentive have learned and apply our teaching. The competition took place between four age categories namely: under 11, under 13, under 15, under 16. There were total 50 athletes, including forty boys and ten girls.

The main promoter of this event was Hassane Fousseni Nadey, Benin. Let's get to know him. What organization does he represent and what are their plans?

Hassane Fousseni Nadey is a technical director for the youth of the African Association of Traditional Games and Sports, a technical Director (Coach) of the Gunu Wrestling Club Association and the Beninese Mas wrestling Association. 

Benin has been a member of the International Mas Wrestling Federation since 2016. Benin mas-wrestlers participated in Mas-Wrestling World Championship in Kyrgyzstan in 2016, in Mas-Wrestling World Absolute Championship in Saudi Arabia in 2018 and in the International Mas-Wrestling Tournament at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Sport Festival in USA in 2020.  

It is in this logic they set objectives to promote mas-wrestling in high schools, colleges and universities not only in Benin, but also in other neighboring countries such as Togo, Ghana, Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire. 

To achieve this first objective, it was essential to set up the initiation and practice equipment of Mas wrestling for Benin, Togo, Nigeria. 

The beneficiaries of this training material are: The Togolese Association of Traditional Games and Sports (President Alassane Dermane), the Nigerian Association of TSG (President Anthony Okolie) and All Sports Foundation of Ghana (President Kamaru Salawu). 

Hassane Fousseni Nadey has got this material. The realization was possible thanks to the carpenters Minakron Hervé, the sculptor Malam Ibrahim of Origin Ghanaians and his son Abdallah fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger, of the painter Assoumanou Abdoul Fataou and Hassane Fousseni Nadey. It's fantastic teamwork. The mas-wrestling inventory from Benin will travel to different countries - Togo and Ghana. Fortunately, the capitals of neighboring states are only a couple of hours by car. 

What's next? The further the more plans.

In cooperation with the brotherly countries of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) and under the IMWF umbrella they wish to organize the 1st African Mas-Wrestling Championship next year. A continental competition will take place in the capital of the country Cotonou or in another bigger city like Parakou or Porto Novo. 

On the occasion of this African Championship they would like the participation of such West African countries ECOWAS as Nigeria, Togo, Ghana, Benin, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Ivory Coast, Guinea Conakry, Senegal etc. Without forgetting our friends from the Indian Ocean - Madagascar, Mauritius for sure.

It will be also an opportunity for Africa to set up an African Mas-wrestling Federation or Association. The creation of a global Pan-African Mas-Wrestling organization will be timed to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the International Mas-Wrestling Federation. 

Finally, we can quote Hassan Fusseni Nadey: “We dream of uniting Africa with mas-wrestling! We are ready to elect a new mas-wrestling organization leadership. I am sure that this event will be historic. "