Balla Gueye’s Coup De Grace

Saturday, 13 October 2012 19:17

(Editorial) – When the news first emerged on Seneweb that the reigning wrestling star Balla Gueye was poised to marry an unnamed Gambian beauty, Banjul was awash with rumours and speculations as to who the lucky woman might be.

Some even suggested he was marrying one of the television personalities in town, or perhaps the bevy of ladies who stood at his hotel gate to take a glimpse of him each time he jets into Banjul.

For well over 24 hours the show biz world in the Gambia was gripped by suspense and rotating speculation on the venue.

“Senegambia Beach Hotel, where he stayed on his first visit? Or is it Cocoa Ocean, the new place for kings?’’, suggested some rumours.
Balla Gueye's new wife, Hellen Maroun (Photo credit: Seneweb)
In the end what would have been the marriage of the decade, [non can surpass Amadou Samba’s daughter’s few months ago], passed as a non-event with only a handful of Imams who had to first turn the bride to a Muslim before tying the knot.

The show biz fanatics and paparazzi from Gambia and Senegal were none the wiser. They did not get that much sought after photo of Balla kissing the Maroun girl.

That aside, the significance of the event outweighs the disappointment of its low key nature.

By marrying a Gambian, Balla Gueye has, unknowingly perhaps contributed in cementing relations between Banjul and Dakar and made himself very qualified to run peace missions where the need arises.

The wrestler’s fame is beyond comprehension and is followed here by a large pool of fanatical fans and his wedding in Banjul has also moved the arena close to Banjul where sports officials are struggling to promote the sports that has outpaced football in popularity in the Senegambia region.

So while we wish Balla Gueye and Hellen Maroun a blissful marriage, we hope and pray that their union would bring about true understanding between the two people.