SJAK president Chris Mbaisi elected AIPS Africa Vice President

Sports Journalists' Association of Kenya (SJAK) President, Chris Mbaisi follows proceedings during the Africa Congress at Lillian Towers, Nairobi on December 18, 2017. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Mbaisi polled 18 votes, while Mufti Mohammed Saeed from Sudan got 15 votes to get elected in first round vote.
  • However, the next two places had to be settled in round two of votes after Kabulo Muanna Kabulo (Democratic Republic of Congo), Yonas Teshome (Ethiopia) and Amadou Diallo (Guinea) got 12 votes each.
  • Diallo and Teshome prevailed polling 18 and 13 vote respectively to join Mbaisi and Saeed as Kabulo fell off with only one vote.

Sports Journalists' Association of Kenya (SJAK) President, Chris Mbaisi was on Monday elected one of the four vice presidents of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS)-Africa as the continental sports writers’ congress ended at the Nairobi Safari Club.

Mbaisi polled 18 votes, while Mufti Mohammed Saeed from Sudan got 15 votes to get elected in first round vote.

However, the next two places had to be settled in round two of votes after Kabulo Muanna Kabulo (Democratic Republic of Congo), Yonas Teshome (Ethiopia) and Amadou Diallo (Guinea) got 12 votes each.

Diallo and Teshome prevailed polling 18 and 13 vote respectively to join Mbaisi and Saeed as Kabulo fell off with only one vote.

Mitchell Obi returned unopposed as AIPS-Africa President alongside First Vice President Mourad Moutaoukil from Morocco after his challenger Diallo stepped down, opting to vie as one of the vice presidents.

Ghanaian William Dodzi Ezah staged a spirited battle to floor incumbent Emmanuel Gustave Samnick from Cameroon for the secretary general’s position. Ezah polled 13 votes against 9.

Anthonio Goncalves Ferreira (Angola) and Mohammed Silimane (Niger) were ushered into office as deputy secretary generals since they were the only nominees for the positions.

Felix Sohounde Peperipe (Benin) retain his position as treasurer unopposed with Oumar Babba Traore (Mali) and Abdoulaye Thiam (Senegal) coming in as executive committee members.

Four more executive committee members; two elected and two co-opted, will be filled in during the AIPS-World Congress due April next year in Antalya, Turkey.

The process was conducted by AIPS-World President, Gianni Merlo from Italy and AIPS-World Vice President, Evelyn Watta.

While addressing the delegates before the voting process, National Olympic Committee of Kenya President, Paul Tergat said that he recognises the important role sports journalists’ play to promote, publicise and preserve the sanctity of sport.

“I am a product of the sports media who covered my numerous races and told my story, wrote and broadcasted to the world my joys and, even disappointments,” said the two Olympics 10,000m silver medallist and five times World Cross Country champion.

Tergat urged journalists to carry on the fight to protect and build sports.

“We have to continue talking and standing firm against things that can destroy what we have tirelessly worked so hard to build over the years,” said Tergat as he singled out corruption and doping.

“Doping is such a dark spot in our sporting scene locally and globally. This is why I put it high on my agenda as the President of NOCK. It's something that I have been against as an athlete and will be steadfast to fight as an administrator,” said Tergat, a former World marathon record holder.

AIPS AFRICA Candidates

President

Mitchell Obi (Nigeria)

First Vice President

Mourad Moutaoukil (Morocco)

Vice Presidents

Chris Mbaisi (Kenya)

Amadou Dioulde Diallo (Guinea)

Yonas Teshome Getaneh (Ethiopia)

Mufti Mohammed Saeed (Sudan)

Secretary General

William Dodzi Ezah (Ghana)

Deputy Secretary General

Anthonio Goncalves Ferreira (Angola)

Mohammed Silimane (Niger)

Treasurer

Felix Sohounde Peperipe (Benin) Unopposed

Executive Members

Oumar Babba Traore (Mali)

Abdoulaye Thiam (Senegal)