Newly Promoted PWD Bamenda appeals for stadium in Abakwa town

By Bakah Derick in Bamenda 

Officials of PWD Social Football Club of Bamenda have presented the need for improved infrastructure particularly a stadium as the most important form of support the administration of the Northwest region can give them.

The appeal was presented Tuesday July 31 during a reception offered the team by Northwest Regional Governor Adolph Lele l’Afrique in celebration of their qualification for the Elite One championship in Cameroon.

Presenting the journey of PWD to the Governor, the First Vice President of the Bamenda historic team fondly called “the Abakwa boys” Barrister Njoya Joseph observed that the participation of PWD both at home and out of home was a battle which they fought so fearlessly despite all the challenges to clinch and Elite one ticket “after 14years in the doldrums.” After spending three years in the Elite Two championship with all the support from the administration when necessary, Barrister Njoya described the first two years as struggling years during which the team only managed to stay in the Elite Two league constantly fighting relegation.  While appreciating the Governor for collaboration, assistance and support, the First vice President said “this year we thought that it was necessary that we put in especially the management what was necessary to take this team to the height we find ourselves in today.”

On what will be their most pressing need as they get into Elite one, Barrister Njoya stated “as you well know your Excellency, we lack infrastructure in the region so literary we play on earth pitches in Bamenda. They managed because they have the zeal to play football; In spite of all these challenges they were not deterred and today we are proud that Bamenda has the second team in Elite One. We just want to seize this opportunity your Excellency to crave your indulgence tthat if something can be done for us this time around it should be for infrastructure in the region…football especially. We don’t have pitches to play on and we trust that with all these challenges Your Excellency shall channel all our worries to the right quarters so that maybe come next season we can have at least a sport ground where we can ply our trade.

Congratulating PWD on their qualification, Governor Lele L’Afrique Adolph admitted that the issue of sports infrastructure is a real problem in the region but promised despite the slow nature of work at the Bamenda municipal stadium under construction by government that “I am going soon before the end of this week chair a technical meeting with all the stakeholders to find out long lasting solution to solve the problem of the many matches we are going to welcome here; at least one match a week, it’s a real challenge for all of us and we are going to manage with the municipal councils and all the stakeholders to handle the situation.” He further appealed to all who can help address the problem to avail themselves to the administration.

Created in the 60s PWD Bamenda is remembered for rising to prominence in 1979 when they played the Cup of Cameroon finals. They will be relegated to the regional leagues during the 2002/2003 football season from where they will return to the national scene in 2014 to play the Elite Two Championship for three years before qualifying in 2018. The Bamenda team finished second on the league table with 55points after Avoin of Nkam that clinched the first spot ticket for the Elite One Championship next season.

The event also afforded Northwest Governor the opportunity to appreciate the NW office of the National football Academy ANAFOOT led by the Regional Director Sama Keneth for emerging champions during a tournament in Yaounde. According to Sama Keneth, the NW region backed home the Coverted Trophy, the Gold Medal, the Best Player, Man of the Match, Best Goal Keeper, Highest Goal Scorer and the Best Coach award. He described this as a result of commitment and hard work  by the kids.