With our Continental Development Programme for the Americas just having kicked off in August of this year, we thought now would be an opportune moment to give you an update on what we have been up to with our first continental-level coordinated development initiative, Africa.
Boipelo Awuah Ph: Atiba
Aya Asaqas Ph: Atiba
Our African Skateboarding Development Managers Group was formed six months ago.
The ASDM consists of Skateboarding Development Managers (SDM) representing each of the countries in Africa in which there is a recognised National Federation.
Blue Galore Ph: Zorah Olivia
This group was established by World Skate in order to foster direct working relationships with the skateboarding community leaders in each country. These managers are to play a very important role in balancing the needs and capabilities of their National Federations as well as their developing skateboarding communities. World Skate believes that these managers are fundamental in pushing forward the development of skateboarding in each country.
Omphile Mashile Ph: Zorah Olivia
The request for a candidate was sent by World Skate to all National Federations with the following requirements:
- A minimum of 1 year active skateboarding experience
- Active skateboarding community involvement
- English proficiency
Omphile Mashile Ph: Raisa Abal
The current SDMs are:
- Angola - Edmilson Pinto
- Benin - Raphaél Aguede
- Botswana - Mosako Chalashika
- Cameroon - Boris Djoukwe
- Democratic Republic of Congo - Ebengo Hugues Joel
- Coté D’Ivoire - Ben Aziz
- Gabon - Gustelly Mboumba Sanghanyh
- Gambia - Dawda Danso
- Ghana - Joshua Tetteh Odamtten
- Guinea Equitoriale - Maria Obono
- Liberia - Maurice Gaye
- Morocco - Bilal Sahli
- Mozambique - Helder Cerveja
- Nigeria - Lukman Abdulrahman
- Senegal - Lahad Ndiaye
- Sierra Leone - Esther Kellah
- South Africa - Deleah Chetty
- Tanzania - Daniel Makindi
- Uganda - Gose Gerald
- Zambia - Sampa Chimfwembe
- with Melissa Bester (previously Williams) being the Continental Development Manager.
Luis Chambal Ph: Kenji Haruta
Mehdi Mercier Ph: Kenji Haruta
The work is set to be long-term, providing consistent, ongoing support from World Skate through bi-monthly webinars as well as regular one-on-one online meetings and constant availability over email and Whatsapp.
Mukuka Chande Ph: Anthony Acosta
Theo Setsetse Ph: Kenji Haruta
The bi-monthly webinars kicked off in December 2025 and aimed to discuss important development factors, providing information and suggestions on how to pursue skateboarding development from a strategic perspective.
The webinars completed so far include:
- Strategy Development (Parts 1 and 2)
- NOC Relationship Building
- Funding Mobilisation
- Leveraging the Existing Environment
- Webinars to come include topics such as:
- Developing Clubs and Hubs
- Coaching Development
- Competition and Event Organisation
- Judging Development
- Safeguarding
Part of the work is also to activate various technical courses hosted by World Skate educators within each country. Three Technical Coaching Courses have already been delivered in Benin, Ivory Coast and Morocco, with many more in the pipeline.
Africa was the first continent in what will form a complete global effort of development by World Skate.
The Americas’ was launched on 26 August 2026 led by our own Francisco (Pepo) Basulto as Continental Development Manager for Americas, with the other continents to follow.
Boipelo Awuah Ph: Kenji Haruta