Dodougou: Football Champagne wins the first Maracana Gondaal tournament. The Champagne Football team won, this Sunday in D©dougou, the first edition of the Maracana Gondaal tournament, a competition initiated by the Minister of Urban Planning, Mickailou Sidib©.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the final, played in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd, pitted Football Champagne against Kapakn¨da FC. After a very close match, which ended in a 0-0 draw, the penalty shootout favored Football Champagne, who won by two shots to zero for their opponent.
The victory was greeted with cheers from both players and fans. The team left with the trophy, medals, a ball, and an envelope containing 200,000 CFA francs. Kapakn¨da FC, the unfortunate but valiant finalist, won a set of jerseys, a ball and the sum of 150,000 FCFA.
Third prize went to Marbaking FC (100,000 FCFA, a ball and a set of jerseys), while Chipolopolo from Dodougou, fourth, took home 75,000 FCFA, a ball and a set of jerseys. Several special prizes were also awarded, in recognition of individual performances and the spirit of fair play.
Present at the ceremony, alongside the Minister in charge of Secondary Education, Vocational and Technical Training, Dr. Boubacar Savadogo, Minister Mickailou Sidib© did not hide his emotion. “There are moments when the ground we walk on takes on a special flavor. Being here, in D©dougou, among you, in my native land, as the patron of this first edition of the Gondaal tournament, is for me a moment of intense emotion and deep gratitude,” he confided.
Addressing the youth, he continued: “This tournament is an act of hope. Gondaal, this word that runs through our languages and our souls, reminds us that we are only strong together. On this pitch, our differences melt into passion, our pain fades into cheers, and our future is written with cleats and courage.”
The promoter wished to thank all those who contributed to the success of the event, in particular the Minister of Sports for his sponsorship, his colleague Dr. Boubacar Savadogo for his closeness, as well as the governor of the region, the technical partners, the facilitators, including Tovio, and the many volunteers working behind the scenes.
He concluded with words of hope: “As long as there are young people who dream, leaders who support them, and citizens who thrive, Bankui will move forward. D©dougou will grow. And Burkina will breathe. Long live the youth! Long live Gondaal! Long live a nation standing, united, and invincible!”