Flavius GOMAY NGONO: "I Want to Change the Face of Central African SAMBO"

The path to the gold medal at the African SAMBO Championships was far from easy for Flavius Gomay Ngono. The athlete from the Central African Republic had a disappointing performance in his debut appearance last year but came back stronger this season. In the finals of the continental championship in Guinea, he delivered a convincing victory in his weight category – proof that determination and focus can overcome any obstacle, even in the face of limited training resources. In an interview with the FIAS website, Flavius shared why this win was especially meaningful to him, how he prepared for the event, and what goals he has set for the future.

Flavius, what does this victory mean to you?

– This medal means a great deal to me. It’s the result of weeks of hard training following last year’s championship, where I fell short of my goal. This time, I took a close look at the mistakes I had made and worked hard to correct them. I can now say that all the effort has paid off.

It’s especially significant because I represent the Central African Republic – a country where conditions for preparing for SAMBO tournaments are still in the early stages of development. Before my previous championship, I hardly even trained on a SAMBO mat. I didn’t have access to proper facilities, and I made a lot of technical mistakes. This year was different – I corrected those flaws, strengthened my preparation, and achieved the result I was aiming for.

In your weight category, the main favorite was two-time world champion Seidou Nji Mouluh. Were you preparing specifically for him?

– Absolutely. I knew he was the favorite – and rightfully so. He’s an extremely strong athlete with an impressive list of achievements. I fought him at the last championship and lost, making some serious mistakes. Since then, I’ve focused entirely on fixing those mistakes because I was confident we would meet again on the mat.

When I found out that my opponent in the final would be someone else, I didn’t dwell on it. As they say, it’s in God’s hands. That’s how it was meant to be. But of course, I was disappointed not to face Seidou again – I had been preparing specifically for that match. I believe it would have been one of the most exciting bouts of the championship.

How does your current training differ from last year? Has SAMBO become a bigger focus for you?

– My foundation is in wrestling. I started training when I was 11, and it’s a style that’s always felt natural to me. Even when I’m not on the mat, I continue practicing technical elements – defending, working from standing positions and groundwork. I also hold a coaching certificate in wrestling, which gives me a good understanding of how to structure my training.

In addition to wrestling, I’ve practiced other combat sports – taekwondo, jiu-jitsu, grappling. Now I try to combine all this knowledge and incorporate SAMBO-specific techniques into my training. I’m working more and more on refining the technical aspects unique to SAMBO and gradually building a complete training process.

Becoming the African champion is already a big achievement. What are your goals moving forward?

– My main goal is to change the face of Central African SAMBO. I love this sport and have a real passion for its development. I want to see SAMBO grow in my country – I want young athletes to have access to training, to compete, and to see real opportunities in this sport. Thanks to the support we’ve already received from FIAS, I have the motivation and strength to keep going. This is my dream, and I’m ready to do everything I can to make it happen.

What would you say to young athletes who are just starting out in SAMBO?

– First of all – work on your technique. If you want to succeed in Combat SAMBO, you need to pay attention to both striking and ground techniques. Don’t rely solely on physical strength. Only through consistent and focused training can you develop a technical arsenal that produces results.

And be calm. Don’t rush in throwing punches from the very first seconds. Study your opponent, observe, try to impose your strategy. Mental clarity is just as important as technical skill. Look for opportunities to score points. Stick to your game plan. If you do that, you’ll get where you want to go.