03:26A funny old game: Senegal’s 'Teqball' enthusiasts battle for official sporting recognition
Teqball, a football-based sport played on a special curved table, is facing difficulties to develop in Senegal.
The community of the sport, which landed in the African country in 2019 through an association called Guediawaye Je M’Engage, has struggled to solidify the game in the nation due to issues such as administrative problems with the Senegalese government.
"There were times when one or many of our players had received invitations to take part in international competitions, but because the embassy denies the visa request at the last minute, we don't have the signature of the Minister of Sports that would allow us to do this process [the procedure of obtaining a visa]," explained Youssoupha Sonko, President of the organization of the Senegalese Association of Teqball (Asteq) and Pdt Jappo Teqball Club of Guediawaye.
To develop the sport in the country, Sonko mentioned that the Senegalese Association of teqball filed a request to be part of the budget planning of the Department of Sports.
"I think that our request is on the table of the Minister of Sports and we call for an opportunity to become what we call a national committee of promotion, which has the same status and operation of a normal sports federation," Sonko said.
According to local media, the strategic plan of ASTEQ from 2022 to 2026 covers the construction of teqball training facilities and the creation of both women’s and para-teqball national teams.
03:26Teqball, a football-based sport played on a special curved table, is facing difficulties to develop in Senegal.
The community of the sport, which landed in the African country in 2019 through an association called Guediawaye Je M’Engage, has struggled to solidify the game in the nation due to issues such as administrative problems with the Senegalese government.
"There were times when one or many of our players had received invitations to take part in international competitions, but because the embassy denies the visa request at the last minute, we don't have the signature of the Minister of Sports that would allow us to do this process [the procedure of obtaining a visa]," explained Youssoupha Sonko, President of the organization of the Senegalese Association of Teqball (Asteq) and Pdt Jappo Teqball Club of Guediawaye.
To develop the sport in the country, Sonko mentioned that the Senegalese Association of teqball filed a request to be part of the budget planning of the Department of Sports.
"I think that our request is on the table of the Minister of Sports and we call for an opportunity to become what we call a national committee of promotion, which has the same status and operation of a normal sports federation," Sonko said.
According to local media, the strategic plan of ASTEQ from 2022 to 2026 covers the construction of teqball training facilities and the creation of both women’s and para-teqball national teams.