Da Costa Alegre Afonso re-elected as Paddle Africa chief

Joao Manual Da Costa Alegre Afonso has been re-elected as President of Paddle Africa. 

An Elective Congress was staged in Luanda, Angola on Monday where Mr. Da Costa Alegre Afonso stood unopposed. 

Mr. Da Costa Alegre Afonso, who was first elected Paddle Africa President in 2009, will lead the governing body for paddle sport in Africa for another four year, running until 2029. 

“Being re-elected President of Paddle Africa means more responsibility and more work,” said Mr. Da Costa Alegre Afonso. 

“Canoeing on the continent today is not the same as it was 10 or 15 years ago. 

“Federations are much more demanding, and athletes need more support to achieve the performance levels necessary to represent the continent with the dignity it deserves.  

“All of this will only be possible with hard work and collective effort from all stakeholders.  

“Paddle Africa has a strategic plan that is being implemented and should allow us to achieve our goals.  

“Continental institutions have a very important role to play in the development of world canoeing, so we must work on a unified strategy, prioritizing the athletes.  

“Our ambition is to see Africa in the highest spotlights of world sport. 

“During this term, we intend to complete what has been left undone, train more coaches, create conditions for the preparation of high-level athletes on the continent, have a headquarters for the Continental Federation with minimum working conditions, regularly organise continental competitions, and encourage National Federations to participate in Paddle Worldwide events.” 

Mr. Da Costa Alegre Afonso has been a member of the Paddle Worldwide Board of Directors since 2005 and has been involved in an official capacity with the Olympic Movement since 1993. 

As well as serving as Paddle Africa President and an Paddle Worldwide Executive Board member, Mr. Da Costa Alegre Afonso is President of the National Olympic Committee of Sao Tome and Principe – a role he has held since 2000 and was relected in March this year. 

Mr. Da Costa Alegre Afonso is also the First Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa and is a member of the Association of National Olympic Committees Executive Council. 

The Paddle Africa Elective Congress also saw the election of a new Second Vice President in Ahmed Kamel Hassan of Egypt. 

The other three Vice Presidents were re-elected with Saied Mohamed Mohamuud of Somalia as First Vice President, Ola Oluode of Nigeria as Third Vice President and Kamal Sulley of Ghana as Fourth Vice President. 

Ahmed Mahamoud Abdoulkader of Djibouti will remain as Paddle Africa Secretary General following his re-election. 

He will also stay on the Paddle Worldwide Board of Directors as a Continental Representative along with Nigeria’s Oluode.