It’s not a mere mantra; it’s the triumvirate with which Siraba Dembelé concludes our interview. “The value that matters to me is perseverance; it has always characterized me. In sports, if you want to endure, you have to be perseverant, never give up, and work hard.“
Not more, not less. But the “more” to add to the act of persevering becomes challenging when what is at stake is our own comfort. It’s not trivial that Siraba is undoubtedly a Game-changer. She challenges her own comfort, that of her team, and the stereotypes already established. Over 15 years giving all to her profession, captain of one of the brightest generation in French women’s handball with the 2017 award of the National Order of Merit; and at the same time, a mother of two whose sleep periods were not on the lengthy side. And now, bidding “adieu” to her time as a player, she has set out to alter the negative perception of the handball agent. Can she achieve it? She works on it, as she does with everything she undertakes.
DON’T GIVE UP
Rio Olympics, 2016.
France-Spain. Quarterfinals.
The Spanish “guerreras” head to halftime with a 12-7 lead. A margin that foretells the next step: the semifinals. The red and gold flags wave vigorously in the stands. Back on the court. 30 more minutes. There is Siraba and her own warriors; no downcast faces, there is a purpose and a conviction: nothing is lost until the last second. 30 more minutes. Spain falls short, and France stands gallantly over it. 26-27.
“We made a great comeback. We were seven goals down, and we managed to win. That game felt like the beginning of something. From that competition onwards, we won everything. It was a turning point for that generation. I treasure those shared moments, the difficulties, and how we managed to turn the situation around.”
Spanish media talk about a cruel defeat. Indeed. But also, about a well-deserved victory, one of those significant ones. Comebacks are savored more. Perseverance led the French team to seize the silver medal in those games. And the next year, the National Order of Merit.
“I must admit I had to look up what it meant (laughs); I wasn’t really familiar. It’s overwhelming to reach the Élysée Palace and be awarded by the president; the ceremony is impressive. We received recognition from the state. The impact was there. We felt we had achieved something significant.”
In the group photo from that moment, faces of pride. How could they not? They are snapshots, fleeting moments; but they leave an imprint. Siraba’s tenure as the team captain, too.
“The legacy I hope to have left is my unifying approach. The collective aspect, ensuring that an entire group functions, is what characterized me the most. As captain, it was important to convey that. It’s crucial for the team’s success. I hope that continues for future generations.”
PAUSE. PROCEED
Matej and Elian, 2019.
“I knew what I wanted; I knew I wanted to take a break for a baby, and as it turned out, I had two. I also knew I was going to come back. I surrounded myself well and didn’t question myself. I didn’t realize everything it could entail.”
Years ago, being a mother in elite sports meant the end. The struggle of women against what was stipulated towards them and their capabilities has made that taking a break in their careers not lead to a definitive abandonment. Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka is now in the news for her return to the courts after motherhood and says she feels “capable of anything.” Siraba was in that position too.
“As athletes, we are just another woman who must juggle two lives: family and work. It’s the same difficulty, only our work is physical and athletic. But it’s true that seeing women around you who have children and return to their level is reassuring, and you have less apprehension.”
“For me, the hardest part is not returning to activity. For a month, you are physically exhausted, but well, it’s overcome, especially if you stayed active during pregnancy. The toughest part is managing the two lives: that of a mother and that of an athlete. As an athlete, you need a lot of rest, and when you have a child, you really don’t get any rest. My kids didn’t sleep; it was tough.”
To give it all again, you have to work hard and also have support. But is that support qualified?
“In my case, I had it all well planned, surrounded myself well, anticipated it. But I’m not sure if it’s accessible to everyone, and I think there aren’t enough specialists in the field. Physical trainers are not experts in preparation during pregnancy or post-pregnancy. One can feel a bit helpless facing that. And you have to be accompanied.”
There is room for improvement in that regard. And then there is the legal issue. As much as being a mother during a sports career is no longer a handicap, the backing of contracts and agreements on women’s rights during and after sports is crucial. France is an example of this.
“In France, it is now so regulated with the collective agreement of women’s handball that clubs are very careful. Everything is provided for in the texts, so it’s easier.”
Among that “everything” is the salary.
“We maintain the salary thanks to the representatives of players, clubs, and coaches who negotiated it, and this resulted in the signing of a collective agreement. Now, when a player is pregnant, it is mandatory to maintain the salary for a year. But this is not the case in all sports, and I hope other sports implement it. Especially individual sports, because for individual sportswomen, it’s really though.”
Indeed, not all athletes have the same framework of protection. Siraba recalls the countries where she played and shares her perception.
“In Russia, it was very easy; the girls have good conditions. Respect and good communication were needed and informing them in advance. But everything is at the club’s expense, and it pleasantly surprised me. In Nordic countries, they maintain the salary, and there is great respect for athlete mothers. In Romania, where I ended my career, it’s the same if you are from there. When you are a foreigner, it’s more complicated. There was the case of Darly.”
The case of Darly Zoqbi, goalkeeper of the Spanish national team: in 2022, they tried to terminate her contract at Gloria Bistrita when she was pregnant. And there are more cases. The key is to persevere in change and unite, as in the case of France.
“I think, in general, things are heading in the right direction, although there are always exceptions. Clubs are beginning to see that having a child does not mean the end of your career, and I think it’s a barrier that is being overcome. With the various examples, this is starting to resonate.”
NEW GOALS
Rise Up, 2023.
Siraba has the temperament of a Game-changer. Her contributions as an athlete, as a mother and as a woman are streams of the same tide. And now, it is time to shake up the male-dominated and closed field of sport representation agencies. First step: obtain the license to practice as an agent; second: found Rise Up, an agency providing guidance to professional handball players.
“The profession of an agent is often criticized, perceived negatively. While some may not work very well, I am convinced that there are those who do their job well. I would like to change the image of this role, of this profession; for me, it should be a real added value to a career, a resource person.”
“With the players I work with, I try to be the person I would have liked to have by my side. Each has their own approach to the profession, but I want to go beyond the contractual aspect. In fact, I never say that I am a player’s agent; I say that I assist, that I am involved in the management of sports careers. It’s an important distinction. I want the athlete to have no regrets, to have all the information, and to be able to say financially at the end of their career: ‘I handled it well.’ Ending their career without regrets, feeling good and knowing what they will do next is crucial.”
This is another hot topic that we will surely address at AIC: what now? How to manage a new job stage, already preparing the ground during the sport career. Siraba is a good example of management. And there will be a third step: she is also pursuing a “General Manager of Professional Sports Club” diploma in Limoges. As you can see, work and perseverance, and not giving up, not for so many times mentioned, lose their great truth; and that is that, despite the bad and not so good moments, life and society must be faced that way.
“I try to convey that to the players I accompany: a career is long, there are ups and downs, and you have to know how to manage them. And even in life after or in general outside of sports, perseverance is an important value for everyone.”
Persevere, don’t give up, work. That’s, for sure, a way to be a Game-changer.
France, 2021. A collective agreement is signed, and its contribution to the protection of pregnant athletes involves the obligation for clubs to contract insurance that maintains players’ salaries during the first 12 months of maternity leave. Goalkeeper Cléopâtre Darleux, a teammate in the national team, and a mother like Siraba in 2019, played a significant role in this signing.- Darly Zoqbi, 2022. They attempted to terminate her contract when she was pregnant. After giving birth and with the contract still in force, she ended up training alone for 9 months. Only when she made it public, and it affected the club’s public image did the situation of abandonment change.
