Cameroon: Dr.Ngongi’s Inter-quarter Football Tournament Keeps Buea Lively during Long Vacation

By Christopher ambe Shu

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Fan Club Eto'o Fils

The finals of the second edition of Dr. Namanga Ngongi’s Inter-Quarter Football Tournament, which has kept residents especially youth and students usefully occupied during this long vacation, will be played tomorrow, Sunday August 22 at the Molyko Omni sport Stadium-Buea.

Fan Club Eto'o will battle it out with Molyko FC,for the Cup Winner to emerge.

The tournament has a cash trophy of FCFA 1.5 million. Cultural dances and other side activities are expected to add pomp to the finals, to be watched by hundreds of soccer lovers.

Edwin Ngwana(pictured greeting match officials), socio-cultural adviser at Buea Governor’s Office presided at the launching ceremony of this year’s tournament, which took place last July 4, attended by hundreds of people.Mr. Ngwana personally did the kick-off in the opening match between Eto’o Fans Club of Molyko (current cup holders) and Veteran FC of Muea, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Ngwana was sitting in for the Southwest Regional Governor, Koumpa Isa.

Dr. Namanga Ngongi is President of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) with residence in Kenya and frontline elite of Fako Division.

This year’s tournament has been competed for by 14 teams. And it is worth-noting that each of the participating teams gladly received a new set of jerseys as gift from the cup donor.

Massive turn out  of soccer lovers

Cup donor Dr Ngongi, in his opening remarks at the launching said he was impressed by the high participation of the youth in the tournament. He sad the competition is intended to develop football talents, as well as keep residents of Buea especially students and other young people usefully busy during this long vacation.

Cultural dancers displaying

“We need to build the spirit of dedication, hard work and discipline,” he said, hoping that one or more of the players participating in his tournament would be playing the World Cup in 2014.

The launching was witnessed by a host of dignitaries such as retired Ambassador Tabong Kima,Dr. Mrs. Dorothy Limunga Njeuma(ELECAM Board Member);Charles Mbella Moki,Buea Mayor; Professor Victor Julius Ngoh,UB Deputy Vice-Chancellor; Ngale kinge Jacob, retired SDO and Buea Traditional rulers.

Effoe Max, president of the tournament’s organizing committee told The Recorder that, even though the trophy carries a cash prize of FCFA 1.5 million, Dr. Ngongi will have spent about six million francs to sustain the competition and its other aspects by the time it comes to an end.

Mayor Charles Mbella Moki,Dr Ngongi and Chief Kima Tabong

“This tournament is a good initiative. I heard the radio announcement about the tournament and decided to come and relax here”, remarked Professor Lydia Luma in a chat with reporters after the launching ceremony. “I feel really relaxed now. Many people appreciate it”

Observers said the tournament is in line with Dr. Ngongi’s growing philanthropic spirit.

They recalled that last February Dr.Ngongi came to the assistance of two Buea health centers, by making material donation to one and supplying electric energy to the other.

He had donated to Muea Health Center 30 cupboards, 20 mattassses, 30 bed sheets and 30 pillow cases.

And he got Bonakanda Integrated Health Center electrified, for the first time since the center was built several years ago.

His assistance to both health centers was estimated to cost over two million FCFA.