Buea: Hon Malomba uses football tourney to boost voter registration, living together.

The grand finale of the ‘Na We We’ Buea Urban Sports Tournament, an initiative of the youthful lawmaker, which got on the rails July 28, came to a close Sunday, August 25, 2024. 

The highly electrifying game was played at the Municipal Stadium in the Buea Town neighbourhood of the mountainside city. 

Watched by over 4,000 enthusiastic football lovers, the event was presided over by Woulsou Jacques, the Inspector General of Services at the South West Governor’s Office, who represented Governor Okalia Bilai Bernard, patron of the tournament. 

He was accompanied by the Divisional Officer, DO, of Buea, Abba Abdouraman. Among a plethora of dignitaries was a special guest of Hon Malomba Esembe, the National President of the Youth Wing of the ruling CPDM party, Auguste Essomba Asse.

During the one-month sports jamboree, teams from Elections Cameroon, ELECAM, pitched tents at the venue to register potential voters. Thanks to the presence of the ELECAM team, several persons took advantage of the opportunity to enroll on the electoral register.

Meanwhile, Sunday’s grand finale, it should be said, pitted Longstreet FC against the Buea Taxi Drivers Football Club. The match was visibly a roller coaster as the Taxi Drivers came from behind twice to level scores, before netting the 3rd goal that gave them the victory. 

When the central referee sounded the final blast of his whistle, the scoreline read 3-2 in favour of Buea Taxi Drivers Football Team. 

Donor restates purpose of competition 

Speaking at the close of the tournament Sunday, Hon Malomba, who initiated the competition, said besides promoting the growth of local football, the competition sought to foster the spirit of living together as well as encourage Buea denizens to register massively on the electoral register.

He said by bringing together youth and the population from diverse backgrounds, the tournament also aimed at fostering a sense of community, nation and mutual respect.

Hon Malomba explained that the tournament was equally organised to encourage political engagement by using it as a platform to educate young people about their civic rights and responsibilities, and the importance of participating in the country's democratic process.

The results-oriented lawmaker rejoiced that the tournament provided a platform for young, talented footballers and other athletes to showcase their skills in order to catch the attention of scouts from professional teams.

Hon Malomba spoils players with prizes

Beside the prize money and trophy handed to the victorious team of the tournament, several collective and individual prizes were handed to teams and players. Certificates of participation with cash prizes of 10,000 FCFA were handed to all 16 participating teams.

A cash award of 20,000 FCFA plus a medal was handed to the best referee of the tournament, Watonsi Deyo Ryan. Also, a ⁠cash award of 20,000 FCFA was handed to the best club president, Milla William, President of Long Street Football Club.

For his part, Nku Perez received a ⁠cash award of 20,000 FCFA as the best team coach while Loa Lopez Jr bagged a cash award of 30,000 FCFA as the best goalkeeper of the tournament. A cash award of 50,000 FCFA was handed to the Most Peaceful and best Fair Play community/team, Tole. 

Boumsong Sob Raul of Buea Taxi Drivers FC took home a cash prize of 20,000 FCFA and a trophy as the tournament's highest goal scorer, while Joshua Litonga Njoh of same team bagged a cash award of 30,000 FCFA and a trophy as the Best Player of the Tournament.

A cash prize of 100,000 FCFA went to the Best Fan Club No. 2, Muea Fans Club while a similar amount was handed to the Best Fan Club No: 1, Tole Fans Club. NEBA Danvadis of the Buea Taxi Drivers FC won the cash prize of 50,000 FCFA as the Man of the Match.

A cash award of 500,000 FCFA and trophy plus a certificate of participation was handed to the runner-up, Longstreet FC while a ⁠cash award of 1,000,000 FCFA, gold medals and a trophy plus a certificate of participation was handed to the champions, Buea Taxi Drivers FC. 

Certificates of recognition were also handed to all sponsors and partners. They included the BIAKA University Institute of Buea, BUIB, MTN Cameroon, National School of Local Administration NASLA, South West Regional Assembly, ELECAM Communal Office Buea, Dream FM, Les Boissons du Cameroon, National Advanced School of Public Works Annex Buea, Government Teachers Training College Mile 17 Buea, Hope Advocates Africa, CSO, MUSANGO Bus Service, Molyko Omnisport Stadium, and Buea Town Municipal Stadium. 

There was also the donation of back-to-school kits, comprising school bags, books and pens donated by Hon Malomba Esembe and MTN Cameroon. A number of budding artists from Buea and Douala, including Nina Nwaseri, Mary K. and Les sœurs Essome thrilled the over 4,000 spectators with good musical and dance performances.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3212 of Wednesday August 28, 2024