By
Bakah Derick
Despite
the lack of infrastructure Bamenda has presented an uncommon picture with a
strong will to go professional this football season. Following the opening of
the 2016 football season Saturday January 30, 2016, Yong Sport Academy welcomed
Lion Blesse of Fotuni in Bamenda the following day in a game that had every
reason to generate fireworks. Away from the fact that the game ended 1-0 in
favour of the home team, lots of things on the sidelines gave a feeling that Bamenda
was ready to be a model for Cameroon football.
Enter the YOSA Supporters Club
The
recently installed supporters club of YOSA announced their presence and
readiness to accompany the regions lone division One team during their Sunday
January 31, 2016 in many ways. Those around the city center got up in the
morning just to realize a transformed city with the traditional green and
yellow colours of YOSA as flags flow everywhere.
Inside
the stadium literally every two metres had the colour of the home team. The new
outfit for the supporters was equally used for the first time with hundreds
showing up with newly well designed T-shirts and face caps. Before, during and
after the game a ban dressed in the official colours of YOSA entertained the
spectators.
At
the close of the encounter the supporters club staged an unexpected move when
they decorated one of the players for Lion Blesse with their colours as man of
the match. To the supporters it was a way of extending the hospitality of the
Bamenda man to their visitors. The YOSA supporters club equally presented a
press point they have made saying all interviews were to be conducted there.
With
National Polytechnic Bamenda FC being a child of the same father with YOSA we
gathered that the picture will be the same when NPB FC is playing.
Yong
Jacques A. YOSA president reacting to the issues of support told the press that
he felt really great and wished the spirit could stay same. He noted that this
season had to cost him a fortune to get quality players including a highly
qualified coach like Ndumbe Bosso.
Enter 64
year old PWD Bamenda.
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| PWD Bamenda President Abunde Pascal in the Middle |
After
staying within the region for over ten years, legendary PWD Social football club
of Bamenda returns to the national scene after clinching one of three tickets
for the National Division II at the close of the 2015 football season. Known for
its wide support across the region and beyond, the Abakwa boys as the team is
fondly called Monday February 1, 2016 during a Press Conference presented a
giant plan requiring about 78millions for the 2016 football season.
According
to the team’s new leader Abunde Pascal, PWD
deserves to be in the Elite One championship and to practice professional
football. While announce the start of a Youth Team for the Abakwa boys in
April, he requested sponsors indicating that it was important to get sponsors
for the sustainability of the club. It was with some sense of satisfaction that
Mr Abunde presented the new management committee of PWD which he said will be
charged with the day to day running of the club.
To help realize the dream of the team, new
recruitments where announced. For players Mohamadou Montari from Panthere
Security, Lesih and Kenyi from Ngoketunjia FC, Tonfack from AS Menoua, Ngassam
Jean from Eagle du Dschang, and others
from Tunisia, Gabon,
Essomba Rene who missed qualifying Feutcheu
FC of Bandjoun for the elite One last season has been recruited as well.
At the close of the Press conference the
president encourage supporters of PWD Bamenda to pay gate fees, buy supporters
cards which he said will be digital to ease information.
PWD
opens their campaign in the Elite Two championship at home on Wednesday
February 3, 2015 against Dynamic of Buea. The match will be followed by a grand
congress in the Bamenda Congress hall on Thursday 4th February, 2016
to be chaired by Northwest Regional Governor.
Worthy
of note is the fact people like Vincent Nji Ndumu Government Delegate to the
Bamenda City Council, Ni John Fru Ndi SDF National Chairman, have served as
president of the Bamenda Club.
The
furthest they have gone is the final of the cup of Cameroon which they lost in
1979.