Ouagadougou: The president of the Burkinabe Football Federation (FBF), Oumarou Sawadogo, presented his half-yearly management report at a press conference in Ouagadougou on Friday, which he considers satisfactory since he took over as head of the Burkinabe football governing body, AIB noted.
According to Burkina Information Agency, during his campaign tour for his election as president of the Burkinabe Football Federation, Oumarou Sawadogo outlined a program called FREE FOOT for healthy governance and structural innovations driven by rigorous and fair management.
After his inauguration on September 10, 2024, President Sawadogo took a break to assess his performance after four months of management, draw lessons learned, and present the outlook. “We focused our efforts on the four axes of the FREE FOOT program that were developed during my campaign: improving governance, strengthening the capacities of stakeholders, developing and maintaining infrastructure, as well as mobilizing and properly managing financial resources,” explained the FBF president.
On the issue of improving governance, crucial reforms have been implemented, with two audits commissioned and conducted by the FBF and FIFA, the results of which are expected in the coming days. Training sessions for presidents, general secretaries, and financial managers of leagues and clubs in administrative and financial management have been organized in Bobo-Dioulasso and Ouagadougou.
“From now on, grant payments are made on the basis of duly signed contracts between the FBF and the beneficiary clubs. The contracts have just been signed, and the second installment of the grant will soon be paid. With our supervisory ministry, we are holding joint meetings to organize certain activities. This press conference for the six months of management is part of the duty of accountability, which is one of the foundations of our governance,” said the president of the FBF.
Capacity building for stakeholders, a priority for the FBF
President Sawadogo stated that “capacity building for Burkinabe football players remains one of our top priorities. Only with increased skills and professional management can we hope to raise the level of our football. We have launched training programs for coaches, referees, doctors, communicators, protocol officers, as well as for club and league administrators, and many other organizations. We have established an ad hoc committee to develop a 2024-2028 strategic plan.”
In this spirit, the Burkinabe football umbrella organization has established partnerships with international institutions and football experts to offer quality training. All championships (women’s and men’s, all categories) have been launched.
In terms of the Stallions’ results, the U17s won the UFOA-B tournament and are currently in Morocco to take part in their category’s AFCON. The seniors qualified for their category’s AFCON, and the locals also qualified, while the women’s Stallions are also on track to qualify for their AFCON.
Mobilizing and properly managing financial resources “remains a major challenge for any organization. We have redoubled our efforts to diversify our sources of funding, seeking to increase partnerships with private companies, sponsors, and public institutions for national and international competitions,” said President Sawadogo.
For the outlook for the year 2025, the FBF will undertake electrification work on the grounds shortly, the 2024-2028 strategic plan drawn up by the Ad hoc Commission will be adopted at the end of April, the teams will participate in sub-regional, continental and international competitions (UFOA-B, CAN, World Cups, etc.).
The duty of accountability obliges the FBF to hold an Ordinary General Assembly in 2025. “In six months, we have laid solid foundations for the recovery and development of Burkinabe football. However, much remains to be done. We are well aware that the challenges are numerous and complex, but with the commitment and support of all football stakeholders, we are convinced that we will take the necessary steps to raise Burkinabe football to the top,” concluded the president of the FBF.