Senegal Star Mane Sets $23,5m Major Agro-Industrial Park in his Hometown...ground-breaking this month

Senegalese footballer and Al-Nassr player ,Sadio Mané, is developing a US$25 million major agro-industrial project in Bambaly, his hometown situated within the Sédhiou region.

The Bambaly Agro-Industrial Park in Casamance, is a 500-hectare agribusiness project run by his company SM10 Agro. Located in the Boudhié Mar area, five kilometres from his native village of Bambaly in the Sédhiou region, the facility will focus on fruit production and processing, targeting an annual capacity of 50,000 tonnes.

Infrastructure planning for the park encompasses industrial processing units, logistics infrastructure, and dedicated cultivation zones designed to integrate local agricultural output into commercial supply chain

According to SM10 Agro, the groundbreaking ceremony is expected this month.

Various Senegalese and African news agencies reveal that the project framework is anticipated to generate approximately 2,500 direct jobs upon completion, providing significant employment opportunities across the southern region of Senegal.

The upcoming construction phase will establish physical facilities required for cold storage, sorting, and agro-processing activities aimed at serving domestic and export markets.

Apart from venturing into business,Sadio Mane has previously funded construction of a hospital and a school in his home town.He is a philanthropist of  note and has been quoted saying.

"Why would I want ten Ferraris, 20 diamond watches, and two jet planes? I starved, I worked in the fields, played barefoot, and I didn't go to school. Now I can help people. I prefer to build schools and give poor people food or clothing". 

The former Liverpool star joins the list of footballers and former footballers who have invested back home.These include former Arsenal player,Nigerian star,  Nwankwo Kanu, who built the Hardley Apartments in Lagos as a real estate investment upon  his retirement.Then there is Ghana's AC and Inter Milan legend Sulley Muntari  who  started an auto-customization business called 4FK Motorsport, serving clients including his former teammates.