On Tuesday 8 August 2023, the final of the SOMISA (Société des Mines de Sanbrado SA) CEO Cup was held. The final was played on the site of the old camp at Sanbrado, in the commune of Boudri. The theme of the competition was “Social cohesion and environmental protection”, and it was designed to bring together the surrounding communities and the mine, in a context of nature conservation.
The final of the first edition of the SOMISA (Société des Mines de Sanbrado SA) CEO Cup pitted teams from the villages of Pousghin and Manessé against the villages of Mankarga and Boena. Many administrative and traditional authorities attended the competition. Many spectators from each village also attended the final and supported their favourite team.
The team from the villages of Mankarga and Boena were the most enterprising from the outset. They created numerous chances in front of the Pousghin and Manessé penalty area. Their style of play paid off when, in the 36th minute, Lamine Ouédraogo fired a powerful shot past the alert Pousghin and Manessé goalkeeper to score the only goal of the final.
With a score of 1-0, the Mankarga and Boena team won the final of this first edition of the SOMISA CEO Cup.
In his speech, SOMISA management representative Christian Ouédraogo congratulated the participating teams, saying: “The mining company, through my voice, would like to congratulate all the participating teams for their determination and sportsmanship”. In his view, the enthusiasm surrounding the tournament’s various matches shows that sport can bring people together and transcend cultural barriers to promote social inclusion. He remains convinced that sport is a powerful tool for strengthening ties between members of our communities and promoting good living together.
“Football is much more than a sporting event. It is a special opportunity for our society to celebrate social cohesion. This competition aims to promote cardinal values such as peace, eco-citizenship, respect, mutual trust and dialogue in all circumstances for good living together,” he said. He also confided that SOMISA initiated this sporting activity because it is aware that serene and profitable mining operations for all require social peace.
Denis Soumaïla, captain of the Mankarga Boema team, thanked SOMISA for initiating the competition. He urged the mine to continue in the same vein. “Allow me also to congratulate the opposing team. They didn’t lose out, but the football gods were on our side today,” he concluded.
The High Commissioner of the Ganzourgou province, Sorgho/Gouba Aminata, for her part, explained that sport is a factor in bringing people together and a powerful instrument for promoting peace and living together in the sense that it allows differences to be transcended. She added that thanks to sport, SOMISA workers and neighbouring villages were able to rub shoulders in this beautiful final.
Teams from SOMISA, Boudri-Nedgo, Pousghin-Manessé and Mankarga-Boena took part in this first edition of the cup. They came 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st respectively. They were all rewarded with sets of shirts, balls, trophies and envelopes. The winning team received 300,000 FCFA and the runner-up 200,000 FCFA.
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