By Bless Zoshe
Buea, Cameroon
Supporters of Tiko United alias Samba Boys, have raised the sum of 7.3million francs, to help run the club this beginning of the 2013 football season in Cameroon.
The funds were raised on Saturday February 2, during their first annual congress, at the Tiko Town Green Hall.
Speaking during the congress dubbed “Operation Back to Elite One”, the care taker president, and Mayor of the Tiko council, Richard Tita Fombon, appealed to the fans to stop the blame-game on reasons why the team dropped to the MTN Elite Two, and rally all efforts, to enable them go back to the first division next season.
Cross section of Tiko United new Players
“We know that many Tiko fans are disgruntled that the team dropped to Elite II. But that is football, it happens. All we need now is their support; moral, financial.” Fombon pointed out.
Fombon further pleaded that despite FIFA and Fecafoot’s prescription that clubs be registered as companies, Tiko United remains the town’s team.
The care taker president went on to present the budget for the club this season, fixed at 109.3 million francs. He said a good chunk of the finances would come in as subventions from government and sponsors, but at least 30 million would have to be raised by the club itself. Prior to the fundraising, a major highpoint was the presentation of some old and new players of the team, as well as the new technical staff led by Coach Wamba Michel.
New Head coach Wamba Petit Michel
Talking to the press at the end of the congress, the Secretary General at the Southwest Governor’s Office, Clement Ndikum Fon appreciated supporters of Tiko United for their contributions but noted that “this is not all what the club will need. This is just the beginning and I am sure the fans would continue to stand by the team so that their aim of going back to Elite One is attained at the end of this season. My advice is that they should take their assignments very seriously; management should work hard, and the population should be behind the team, so the players can put in their best.”
On their part, head coach Wamba Michel and his boys sound combat ready, after weeks of preparation for the new season. According to one of the new recruits, Yannick Ombang, playing with his home-town’s team is a dream come true. “I am very happy to have integrated the group, and pray that the fans should support us as they have promised.
To Mbah Armstrong Mbah from Mouvement Sportif Loum, “all our training sessions have been going on in high spirit so as to qualify the team back to D1 next season. My main objective as a centre forward is to score more goals to lift this new club.
Last days of Tiko United in MTNElite One Championship
On his part, head coach Wamba Michel says “I am lucky to have the destiny in my hands. The mission assigned me by the care taker committee, is to get the club back to Elite One. For the past three weeks, I have been working with a talented group whom I think, will be up to the task. We might start slow, but will pick up in the course of the competition.”
Notwithstanding, Wamba remained worried that as at February 2, the eve of the kickoff of the 2013/2014 season, no player had officially penned his contract with the club. “We have our first match on the 9th, and up till now, no player has been signed. So, you understand, it is disturbing. However, I hope that with the holding of this congress, things will speed up.” He confessed.
Despite this step in the build up to a successful takeoff of the championship for Tiko United, their fans are yet to get very warm about the new status of the club. While some out rightly disapprove of some members of the care taker committee, others think the club is not as motivated as it was in past years. Nevertheless, they are resolute in their vision and ambitions to support the team regain its position in the Elite One championship next season. The journey to attain that objective begins when they face Botafogo of Douala on Saturday February 9.
The Samba Boys were relegated to the Elite II after finishing at the bottom of the classification table last season. The club received another severe blow, with the resignation of their longtime charismatic president Eteki Charles Dikongue recently. Until the organization of fresh elections, Tiko United would be managed by a care taker committee set up by the Divisional Officer, Ungitoh Zachary, and led by the Mayor, Richard Tita Fombon.
