The Bamenda III Council Inclusive Royal Tournament 2025 closed with a strong message of unity, diversity, and inclusion, proving once again that sport is a tool for building communities. Spearheaded by the Mayor of Bamenda III, Fongu Cletus Tanwe, the tournament brought together football clubs, traditional displays and persons with disabilities in a celebration of shared humanity.
This year, the tournament featured a special participation from the Hope Social Union for the Visually Impaired (HSUVI) on the invitation of the Mayor. The group thrilled spectators with a demonstration of goalball, a unique Paralympic sport designed specifically for the visually impaired. Played with a ball embedded with bells, teams of three try to throw the ball into the opponent’s goal while the defending side listens and dives to block it. The game not only entertained but also educated the public on the skills and resilience of persons with disabilities.
HSUVI also took to the stage with a spirited performance of the Njang dance, a traditional display combining instruments, songs and coordinated dance steps, further underlining the idea that inclusion in sport goes hand in hand with cultural pride.
The inclusive approach extended beyond the pitch. Nsah Edwin, a journalist with Radio Hot Cocoa Bamenda, was part of the announcing and commentary team throughout the final. Beyond his media work, Edwin is also known for leading a cluster in a recent project by the Coordinating Unit of Associations of Persons with Disabilities (CUAPWD), giving him a unique perspective on amplifying disability voices in mainstream spaces.
Another source of inspiration at the final was Kumo Louisa, recently crowned Miss Blind Cameroon 2025. Her presence was hailed as a symbol of possibility.
“I am beyond proud of her achievement and can’t wait to see her shine on the national stage,” said Ngong Peter Tonain, President of HSUVI, underscoring the pride and optimism her victory has brought to the community.
For years, persons with disabilities have been excluded from mainstream sporting events, often left on the margins despite their potential. The solution pursued by the Bamenda III Council has been deliberate inclusion, ensuring that every edition of the tournament features the participation and visibility of people with disabilities from amputee football in 2022 to goalball and cultural displays in 2025.
Mayor Fongu Cletus Tanwe (in white) with Ngong Peter Tonain of HSUVI
The impact has been powerful: shifting public perceptions, celebrating ability rather than disability, and inspiring more young people living with impairments to see themselves as full participants in community life. The event has also opened conversations about access to sports facilities, cultural recognition, and equal opportunities in Bamenda III and beyond.
Mayor Fongu Cletus Tanwe has made it a tradition to give the community of persons with disabilities a visible space in the tournament. By doing so, he has demonstrated that inclusion is not charity, but a celebration of talent, resilience and contribution.
The 2025 edition may have crowned new football champions, but its lasting victory lies in showing that when barriers are broken, communities grow stronger together.
By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Newsroom
Email: hilltopvoicesnewspaper@gmail.com
Tel: 6 94 71 85 77
