Delegates from over 40 countries gathered today (12 December 2020) for the virtual General Congress of the African Swimming Confederation (CANA). The Congress originally scheduled for April 2020 in Durban, South Africa had to be postponed due the global COVID pandemic. The Congress was held on the 50th anniversary of CANA, which was formed in Cairo, Egypt in November 1970.
The Congress reviewed its activities over the last four years and acknowledged the rapid growth on the African continent at both the Continental and Regional Championships of CANA. These competitions now attract all 53-member countries from across the continent. This was largely due the changes in the in the policy of the International Aquatic Federation (FINA) which has increased its support for the National Federations development programmes in each country.
Dr Sam Ramsamy, the CANA President, noted the growth of CANA over the last 50 years. He thanked the efforts of Mr Mustapha Larfaoui the first CANA President for his vision in the formation of CANA and his leadership in ensuring the growth of aquatics to ensure the successful achievements of CANA over the years.
Mr Larfaoui, who was present at the Congress, addressed the General Assembly, and thanked the Bureau under the leadership of Dr Ramsamy for carrying the baton forward and ensuring that CANA has continued to grow. The meeting roundly applauded Mr Larfaoui for his lifetime contribution toward aquatics in Africa.
The Congress elected the following Bureau for the next 4-year cycle.
President : Dr Sam Ramsamy (South Africa)
Secretary General : Dr Mohamed Diop (Senegal)
Treasurer-General : Mr Jace Naidoo (South Africa)
Vice President Zone 1 :Mr Zouheir El Moufti (Morocco)
Vice-President Zone 2 :Mr Babatunde Fatayi-Williams (Nigeria)
Vice-President Zone 3 :Dr Donald Rukare (Uganda)
Vice-President Zone 4 :Dr Mario Fernandes (Angola)
Members : Mr. Yasser Idriss (Egypt)
: Mr. Youssoufou Ahmadou Tidjani (Niger)
: Ms. Thauriya Diria (Tanzania)
: Ms Doreen Tiborcz (Mauritius)
: Ms Ayishatu Farida Iddriss (Ghana)
The Congress unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the candidature of Mr Husain Al Musallam (Kuwait) for President of FINA. The FINA elective congress will take place in Doha, Qatar on the 5 June 2021. Delegates supported the resolution based on the successful last four years of FINA’s contribution towards the development of aquatics in Africa and noted Mr Al Musallam’s key role in shifting FINA policies in the direction of growing aquatics globally.
Dr Ramsamy thanked Mr Al Musallam for his ongoing support for ensuring that FINA provides the necessary support to countries across all continents to grow and develop the various disciplines of FINA. The successes achieved over the last few years was a result of the strong partnership between Asia and Africa. He believed that this partnership must continue in the years ahead to make aquatics truly great on both our continents.
In his acknowledgment Mr Al Musallam thank the delegates and Dr Ramsamy for their kind words. He indicated that the successes that was achieved would not have been possible without the support of Dr Ramsamy and the member Federations of CANA. He pledged to take FINA to the next level as a major international Federation. The success of Africa and Asia are deeply intertwined in the partnership that goes back many decades. He promised to work closely with CANA and the member federations too further strengthen this historical partnership.
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