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| Team Captain Nkessi recives troophy |
It is no news to anyone that the Bamenda based first
division club Yong Sports Academy (YOSA) is the current holders of the National
Challenge Cup of Cameroon. The event that saw the Bamenda team clinch the title
took place in Yaounde on the 22nd December, 2013 before the very
eyes of the President of the Republic Paul Biya. Yong Sports Academy, YOSA,
beat Canon Yaounde at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium 4-1
after post match penalties to take the trophy across the Mungo. Surprisingly up
to this date July 4, 2014 the team has not received the mega Ten Million francs
said to be the Cash Price for the winner.
It is for this reason that officials of teams involved in
the 2014 Cup of Cameroon say “No Cameroon Cup if YOSA’s Money is not paid”. This
decision sources say is further sparked by the fact that huge sums of money (close
to 60milion francs )was coughed out for individual players of the National Team
who came with nothing short of disgrace for Cameroon from Brazil.
Ahead of the programmed kick-off of the round of 32 for the
Cup Cameroon, there are now fears the Brazil 2014 debacle of the National Team
will directly affect local football as the Teams say it will be needless to
engage expenditure for a competition that has no take home at the end of the
day. While many fans in Bamenda have
been celebrating the decision by club
authorities it seems the Football Association is not moved as they are busy struggling
to defend themselves before a Prime Minister Philemon Yang Lead commission charged
with bringing to the fore the cause of the disastrous performance and conduct
of the Team in Brazil.
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| Paul Biya hands medals to YOSA players |
Reflection
Could it be that the Cup of Cameroon was made for French
Cameroon? This is the question that many are asking and if the response is no then
what is keeping YOSA’s money? If yes then one will need to put to question the
results of teams west of the Mungo in the said competition.
In history, The first team west of the Mungo to appear at the finals of the Cup was the then P&T Social Club of Buea in 1964. They were thrashed by Diamant of Yaounde 0-3. The following year, 1965, CDC Victoria United made it to the finals but were humbled 1-4 by Lions FC of Yaounde.
Two years after, in 1967, PWD of Bamenda will again try to take the trophy across the Mungo but their dreams were shattered when they were beaten by Canon of Yaounde 0-1. They will later on repeat this performance 12 years later (1979), but were once again defeated, this time by Dynamo of Douala 1-3.
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| a colourful cup final |
Meanwhile, in the year 2000, things took a dramatic twist. Kumbo Strikers FC, formed in 1992, were the first team west of the Mungo to lift the prestigious Cup of Cameroon. After beating Coton Sport at the semi finals, under the leadership of Samuel Che, Kumbo Strikers, fondly called the People’s Club, beat Unisport of Bafang 1-0, thanks to a lone goal from Franklin Takang.
The team moved from Yaounde through Douala, Limbe, Buea, Bafoussam, Bamenda and to Kumbo where they brandished the trophy, which had crossed the Mungo for the first time.
In 2002, history will repeat itself as Buea-based team, Mount Cameroon FC aka Lava Boys, formed in 1997, under the leadership of Valentine Atem, won the Cameroon Cup after beating Sable of Batie FC 2-1.
Since 1961, clubs west of the Mungo have played the finals of Cameroon Cup seven times, winning just two. Created in 2004, YOSA represented the Northwest Region that same year in the inter-pools competition. The football club also played the 2005 Northwest inter-pools and in 2006, it again represented the Region in the National Inter-pools.
YOSA was promoted to MTN Elite One Championship in the 2008/2009
additional facts from Cameroon web news