The Roots of Bambali

The broken phone that captured the world's attention

In 2019, a photograph left people around the world intrigued. In it, Sadio Mané — one of the highest-paid footballers on the planet and a European champion with Liverpool — was holding an old mobile phone with a completely shattered screen.

When a journalist asked him why he did not simply buy a new one, the answer attributed to the Senegalese footballer became a symbol of a different way of looking at money and success:

“Why would I want ten Ferraris, twenty diamond watches and two private planes? What would that do for the world? I experienced hunger, worked in the fields, survived difficult times and played barefoot. Today, I prefer to build schools and provide food for people who have nothing.” This quote is frequently attributed to Sadio Mané, although its exact original source has not been conclusively confirmed.

The roots he never forgot

Mané never allowed money to erase his memories of Bambali, the small village in southern Senegal where he grew up. As a child, his father became ill and died in a region where access to nearby medical care was extremely limited.

Instead of forgetting where he came from, Sadio Mané returned to his roots and invested in his community. Projects associated with the footballer include the construction of a hospital with a maternity unit, the funding of a public secondary school, improved internet access and financial support for families living in extreme poverty.

When he puts on the shirt, Mané is not playing only for fame. He is also playing for every child in Bambali who can now have access to a doctor, a school and new possibilities.