Yaounde: Cup donor, Lang Foligar, uses football tourney to preach peace, unity.

Lang Foligar gave the admonition Sunday August 24 in Yaounde. The founder and president of opposition political party, the Cameroon Reformation Part, CRP, was speaking at the close of the 6th edition of the Menchum Unity Tournament for Peace and Tolerance.

The final of the tournament, an initiative of the UK-based Cameroonian, pitted Young Veterans against Ndzem Usu FC. Young Veterans lifted the coveted trophy after edging their counterparts 1-nil.

The highly contested final was staged at the University of Yaounde I sports complex, was watched by hundreds of enthusiastic spectators including high profile personalities like the Presidential candidate of the October 12 election, Serge Espoir Matomba.

Others included the Yaounde chapter President of the Weh Cultural and Development Association, WECUDA, Kum Lang Reuben.

In his remarks at the close of the tournament, Lang Foligar who sits atop the UK Instant Services Ltd highlighted the importance of sports in promoting peace and understanding.

He urged the people of Menchum Division resident in the political capital to prioritise peace before reassuring them of his constant support to the growth and development of the division.

Lang Foligar who spoke extempore at the closing ceremony, said: “I am calling on the people of Menchum to be very peaceful, resilient and to be tolerant. I want the people of Menchum to be exemplary Cameroonians. They need to be more peaceful”.

Commenting on the conduct of the competition, Lang boasted that “This tournament has been a huge success. It has brought joy to the people”.

He explained that: “This is not just a holiday tournament…from this tournament, promising talents will travel to Europe so they can play internationally. We have accepted that the best player is going to be traveling to Europe and that player must be carefully selected with no bias but with sincerity and honesty…”.

Though Geh Abuem-Keze emerged Best Player of the tournament, the organising committee settled for Bande Sickot Bande for issues of age. Bande, a young football sensation will thus be traveling to Europe to pursue a career in football with the support of Lang Foligar.

Enter Serge Espoir Matomba

In an impromptu remark delivered during Sunday’s event, the Presidential candidate of PURS at the October 12 election, Serge Espoir Matomba saluted the gesture of Lang Foligar. Matomba whose PURS political party recently entered an alliance with the Cameroon Reformation Party of Lang Foligar hailed the players for demonstrating fair play during throughout the encounter. 

The politician and businessman said: “I have seen proof that when we love each other, we can do things together and better. I have seen proof of love here today”. 

“So, I want to say to Mr Lang and all those who supported this tournament to continue. We will be together to achieve this and we will be available when you need us” he added.

Earlier, the chairman of the organising committee of the competition, Michael Lom, said though Young Veterans lifted the trophy, it was Menchum that won.

He said: “Today, we have gathered to celebrate good football…presented to us by sons of Menchum from around Cameroon”.

Lom stated that: “This prestigious sports jamboree kicked off with seven teams…today no matter who has carried the day, it is Menchum that has won”.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3545 of Tuesday August 26, 2025