By Bakah Derrick
On Monday 1 November 2021, they received the mandate of the North West football family to represent the interest of the region as delegates to the elective general assembly (EGA) of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT).
Scheduled for Saturday 11 December 2021 in Yaounde, these six delegates do not only have the responsibility to elect a president for the Football Association (FA) but more so to elect a president who is willing and sufficiently capacitated to change the story of North West football and footballers.
With amazing talents and dedicated club owners, the North West has practically been left to struggle for her own in terms of professionalising her football environment even from far back when the region held the position of vice President at the FA. With the understanding that the new regional league leaders have a clear plan, the leader to be selected must be one who is intentional and ready to professionalise football in the country and the North West in particular
With just a regional championship meaning no divisional chamoionships for over two years, it is certain a generation of young footballers in the region have lost years of practice. This is a lot for a region with so much quality. To safe these young people and give them hope and possibility to catchup, someone serious about developing youth football must be considered for the office of the FA president.
The presence of the region in national selections is another course for concern. For many years, only Fai Colins from Bui has enjoyed a good stay with the senior team and for the rest of the selections, children from the North West Region are good only for pre-selection. From the women selections to junior male teams, the story is same. There is certainly nothing wrong in making this a deal with the choice of President they will be choosing.
The Regional league is currently renting an office at Fon's street in Bamenda after one was purchased years back around the finance junction area and abandoned. For the league to have been in this rented facility since 2018 and counting with little signs they will be returning to their facility soon indicates that the FA is in need of someone who has the capacity to rebrand FECAFOOT entirely. Football, her leaders and infrastructure should inspire hope.
It will be dishonest to end this reflection without talking infrastructure. While Elite One side PWD Bamenda trains at the stony St Joseph school field in Mankon, Women's division one side Vision Sport and Elite Two side Foncha Street trains in a dusty/muddy playground of St Paul's colleague in Nkwen similar to where PWD trains. Top tier matches are played in a low quality private property in Nkwen. It will be outrageous should the North West vote for someone with no clear plan to develop North West football infrastructure.
Mbigha Felix, Agho Oliver, Blaise Yoye, Fomum Victorine , Fai Salle, Soh Tchejajouo Magloire have a life time opportunity to select a president who will provide solutions to the challenges facing North West football.
So far mute over their positions unlike some of their counterparts of the South West who have declared their support for former national team captain Samuel Eto'o, fear is rising if these delegates are not mute because they want to make choices that will protect only their pockets and not North West football.