The situation of COVID-19 is getting better in Senegal if we consider the number of new cases, which is decreasing every day. However, this could not prevent the cancellation of the friendly match between Senegal and Mauritania a few hours before kick-off on October 13 due to COVID-19 infections in the camp of the visitors.
“Following the COVID-19 tests, in accordance with FIFA and CAF health protocols, eight members of the Mauritanian Federation were unfortunately found to be positive,” announced the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) through a press release.
This unexpected situation has led the sports authorities to review their earlier plan for the resumption of sports activities. Previously scheduled for November, the resumption of the football competitions at the national level have been postponed to January 2021. Basketball competitions are expected to resume in December.
The situation of sport journalists is not improving. “ANPS was invited to a seminar on October 1, 2020, with all sports federations and the Senegalese National Olympic and Sports Committee by the Minister of Sports to discuss the modalities of the resumption. We have taken that occasion to expose the difficulties of the media in general and the sports press in particular. We are awaiting the decision of the state,” ANPS President Abdoulaye Thiam said.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 has continued to affect the work of sport journalists. Despite the government’s decision to exempt media companies from taxes until December, some media houses went for months without paying salaries to their employees. Others have cut jobs for Covid reasons. “It has been reported to us that the main sport media group has laid-off journalists,” Thiam added.
As part of the strategy of resilience, the different media have opted for the reduction of the number of pages for newspapers and consequently a 30% reduction of salaries in some press companies.
The only way for sport journalists to get out of this difficult period is for ANPS to have additional funding to help their members. “Thanks to our partners, we have provided masks and other hand sanitizers to our members on the field. And we are waiting for the 2 million aid promised by the football federation to be able to support other colleagues who really are in urgent need,” Abdoulaye Thiam stated.
