M. Sidi Mohamed Almahamoud, Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture, visited the Langa-Langa traditional wrestling arena in Zinder on Friday, August 21, accompanied by Governor Colonel Massalatchi Mahaman Sani and officials from his ministry and the military engineering corps. The visit initiates preparations for the arena's rehabilitation as Zinder is set to host the 47th Edition of the National Sabre Kokowa in December. The Minister stated, "We made the trip with executives from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the military engineering corps to organize the work to be undertaken within the arena for its rehabilitation." He added that the goal is "to give this infrastructure another face to host the 47th Edition of traditional wrestling." M. Almahamoud emphasized, "The work must reflect another dimension, another vision for our sport by offering a viable and profitable framework to permanently host sporting competitions."
Rehabilitation Plans Detailed
The rehabilitation works are projected to conclude within a four-month timeframe. The full renovation will include upgrades to the arena's toilets, the press box, and the refreshment bar. M. Sidi Mohamed Almahamoud, Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture, stated that the objective is "to give this infrastructure another face to host the 47th Edition of traditional wrestling. We are satisfied with the preliminary work that will be carried out in this arena."
The Minister further elaborated that the works must reflect "another dimension, another vision for our sport by offering a viable and profitable framework to permanently host sporting competitions." Following initial assessments, the Central Directorate of Infrastructure Engineering will develop a technical execution file for the arena's renovation. This file will be prepared after technical teams return to Niamey to conduct detailed architectural and technical studies.
Broader Vision for Sports
The rehabilitation plan for the Langa-Langa traditional wrestling arena also incorporates covering the tribune positioned opposite the officials' seating area. This upgrade aligns with the broader objective for the facility. M. Sidi Mohamed Almahamoud, Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture, emphasized that the rehabilitation efforts must respect orientations focused on presenting a new image for the infrastructure. He stated, "It is about giving this infrastructure another face to host the 47th Edition of traditional wrestling. We are satisfied with the preliminary work that will be carried out in this arena."
The Minister further clarified that the Ministry of Youth and Sports intends to establish traditional wrestling programs in regional arenas, aiming for permanent competitions across senior, junior, and youth categories. M. Almahamoud articulated this vision, saying, "The works must reflect another dimension, another vision for our sport by offering a viable and profitable framework to permanently host sporting competitions."
Minister's Other Engagements
M. Sidi Mohamed Almahamoud also participated in a panel discussion at the Lycée Amadou Kouran Daga. The discussion centered on the theme 'Keeping young girls in school in the face of youth employability challenges'. The Minister was joined on the panel by Governor Colonel Masalatchi Mahaman Sani. Also present were Madame Ggone Diop, Director of the Sub-regional Office for West Africa of the ECA, and Madame Djanabou Mahondé, UNICEF Representative in Niger. The Minister's engagement at the Lycée Amadou Kouran Daga took place alongside the ongoing preparations for the arena's rehabilitation. Earlier, M. Almahamoud had stated that the visit to the arena was to "organize the work to be undertaken within the arena for its rehabilitation." He added that the goal is "to give this infrastructure another face to host the 47th Edition of traditional wrestling. We are satisfied with the preliminary work that will be carried out in this arena." M. Almahamoud further emphasized that "The works must reflect another dimension, another vision for our sport by offering a viable and profitable framework to permanently host sporting competitions."