FENASSCO B Games Douala 2013: Southwest Representatives Now Known

Bless Zoshe
Kumba, Cameroon.

Southwest representatives for the National Primary School Games, FENASSCO ‘B’, are now known. This was after the regional finals that took place from March 5-6 2013, at Government Practicing School, Kumba Town.

The  two-day event brought together more than 800 athletes and official from all six divisions of the region, who competed in nine disciplines, including; football boys and girls, gymnastics, wrestling, judo, volleyball, basketball, and athletics.

For some of the results recorded in collective sports, G.S Ndekwai, Manyu Division beat G.S Ndongo, Fako, 2-0 at the football boys final; G.S Kokaka, Meme Division, qualified in football girls; C.S Tombel, Kupe Muanenguba emerged champion in handball boys; while Blessing Bilingual Nursery and Primary School, Buea, Fako, and Princess Diana Nursery and Primary School, GRA, Buea, qualified in Basketball and Volleyball respectively.

For individual disciplines, Nkwetta Samuel from Lebialem and Anyie Diana from Kupe Muanenguba were first in Judo; Takoh Malvin from Meme, and Chambang Chelsy, champions in gymnastics; Ngong Landrine (Fako), and Gah Sharon(Fako), came first in Table Tennis. In Shot Put, Dibutu Henriette and Jabia Gilbert from Ndian, were first, while Peter Ngale Lyonga (Fako) and Aloho Delany (Meme) stood out in wrestling.

In the overall classification, Fako came 1^st, scoring 348 points, Meme 2^nd with 306 points, 3^rd Ndian with 304 points, 4^th Kupe Muanenguba 283 points, 5^th Lebialem 211 points, while Manyu was 6^th with 200 points.

Speaking to some of the coaches in the various disciplines shortly after the closing ceremony, they expressed great optimism, ahead of the national competition, billed for March 30, in Douala.

The coach of Judo, Gymnastics, and wrestling for Lebialem, Biteh Joy Nji, said their performance was “something that is within. I did it for years while in the university and at the Olympics, so I had to instill in my athletes, the encouragement to do like me.

When I first went to Lebialem on integration, there was nothing there like Judo and the rest, but now, the kids love it and are willing to participate. After these finals, I am going to reinforce certain tactics, to bring more medals to the region.”

On his part, the trainer for girls’ football from G.S Kokaka I, Konye subdivision, Mbems Emmanuel Akwo, affirmed that their mission this year is to grab the trophy at national level.

“In 2010 we were in Mbalmayo where we came 6^th, in 2011 we qualified, and last year we were runners up. So this year is our time to prove to the entire nation that we are up and doing. We intend to be champions. Southwest should not be left behind,” Akwo declared.

For the regional coach of basketball, Akele Consula, “the boys’ team is really prepared for the national finals in Douala because this will be their second participation, so they have a little experience, unlike the girls who are all new. So I think the boys will perform better.”

Despite the overall satisfactory outcome of the Southwest Regional Finals, there were a number of challenges at the organizational and infrastructural levels. Repeated cases of over aged athletes almost marred certain disciplines like football and athletics.  Gymnasts for instance, were forced to perform the finals on the grass because the gymnasium was not ready for use, while athletes for Judo competed on torn mats, and lacked the basic apparel recommended for the sport.

Responding to these entire shortcomings, the Regional Technical coordinator for FENASSCO, Kenengue Salomon acknowledged that it is a major challenge with fighting sports throughout the region.

“We lack quality equipment in our region, which is why every time, we are obliged to manage with what we have. We even went for the ‘Dixiade’ without any training in Judo, Gymnastics and wrestling, because we don’t have mats. Some athletes are only discovering the mat during these regional finals, and the mats are not even in good state. Consequently some will only discover the adequate material during the national finals, and that will not help us.

In such conditions, competing against other regions like the Centre, Littoral, North, and Extreme North, where they have been working for many years with the appropriate equipment, if we have something, we will just say it is good for us. Kenengue lamented.

Quizzed on if this would mean no medals for Southwest hopefuls in fighting sport, the coordinator sounded rather positive, adding that it has been their strategy over the years, to fine tune tactics, and familiarize athletes with the standard equipment a few days before the national games.

Representing the Governor of the Southwest Region at the event, the Inspector General, Haman Dahirou recommended the intensification of preparation, ahead of the Douala rendez-vous.

“I think we have the talents, we have the potential, and we have to work hard to present them so that we can come back with as many medals.” He remarked.

The Inspector General also frowned at the use of fraud during the games. “It is our illness, because we don’t like to lose. It is not a good practice because we need fair play. That way, we present your athletes as they are, as they are prepared. My main recommendation is for them to be serious because at the national level, there is no place for those for lazy people.”

Evaluating the general conduct of the finals, the Regional Delegate of Basic Education, Njika Joseph described this year’s event as the best ever in terms of organization.

“I am very impressed with the general organization. We came out with the true representatives of the region whom we shall be travelling with to Douala. We want to beat the 8^th position we occupied last time. In Maroua, we came 3^rd, in Bertoua, we were 6^th, in Limbe, we were 2^nd, and we think that we should go back to those glory days. For now, we still have about two weeks ahead of us, so the athletes will return to their various divisions to permit them write their second term examinations. We shall assemble them again a few days to the National finals for final preparation, before leaving for Douala on the 30^th.” The delegate announced.

Njika also used Thursday’s closing ceremony to hint journalist on the venue of the games in 2014. “Next year, if the roads are very dry, we shall carry it to Manyu.”