Leadership changes at the helm of Northwest FECAFOOT

By Bakah Derick Blogger at Hilltopvoices

 After staying at the helm of football affairs as FECAFOOT president in the Northwest Region for over ten years, John Begheni Ndeh who also served as Former 1^st Vice President FECAFOOT national this Friday November 7, 2014 dramatically lost his regional function. In a well-publicized Regional FECAFOOT election held in the conference hall of Mondial Hotel Bamenda, observers who showed up where visibly bordered about the absence of incumbent president John B. Ndeh. While Kaba Christopher former Secretary General for the regional league, who happened to be one of the two retained candidates, could be seen mobilizing support at the event ground, his opponent JB Ndeh was nowhere to be found. Atah Robert though disqualified from running for the function by the Normalization Committee was seen around as he arrived amongst the early electorates.

John B. Ndeh former President

Kaba Christopher New President

Considering the just ended and the immediate past football seasons, Tambe Jonathan representative of the Normalization committee of FECAFOOT to the Northwest had to confirm the Electoral College before the elections proper. It is worth noting that the Electoral College was made up of 31persons; 18 being divisional representatives and 13 regional Division Two club representatives. During his roll call 30 where present with one absent being the representative of Highland Rangers of Santa expected to be John B. Ndeh. When the in-camera electoral meeting began, a black corolla V8 Prado drove into mondial hotel. A security official identified as the private security officer of John B. Ndeh in his function as MIDENO Director stepped out with a file then walked into the hotel taking the direction of the conclave.

It was not long after the departure of the luxurious V8 Prado when Nfor Francis, Media consultant on Political issues to the defunct CPDM coordination Unit and Communication Officer for MIDENO arrived an handed over copies of a press release from John B. Ndeh with Subject: Withdrawal of my Candidature for the position of President of the North West FECAFOOT at the ongoing elections of FECAFOOT. For throwing in the towel this late the incumbent opined in his release that following the nullification of the resolutions of FECAFOOT’s General Assembly of 23 August 2014 by the conciliation and Arbitration Body of the National Olympic and sports Committee; Cameroon’s supreme sports tribunal, the Normalization Committee of FECAFOOT could no longer proceed with the ongoing elections, since they were organizing on the basis of the statues and the electoral code voted during the said General Assembly. To him therefore the elections were illegal.

A cross section of Delegates

This submission was however read to the elective assembly but did not disturb the business of the day as the elections still went on. After the close door exercise, the media was invited for briefing. During the briefing it emerged that KABA Christopher was the President-elect for FECAFOOT Northwest. His list had 25 of the 30 votes while 5 votes where null. He then presented four other members of his list as his fellow delegates for the General Assemble. They are Fortibue Hilary, Tafili Magnus, lialam Edward and Ngalla Loya.

In a reaction after his Election Mr Kaba Christopher gave credits to John B. Ndeh for bringing him to FECAFOOT and supporting his candidature for the elections. While promising to continue working for the growth of Football in the North west Region, the President-elect who hitherto was the regional league secretary and currently President of Santos SA a regional division Two side underscored the need for everyone to join and support him for football and footballers to see the light of day in the region.

NW Representatives for the FECAFOOT General Assembly

Happily married and father of many children, Mr Kaba Christopher is a sports and physical education instructor, with over ten years as Regional FECAFOOT league Secretary. During his Tenure two teams (Kumbo Strikers and YOSA) won the cup of Cameroon with other junior teams winning several tittles and qualifier for superior levels.  In his native Nkwen village Mr Kaba is celebrated as a seasoned football promoter.

Mr Tambe Jonathan talking to reporters described Mr Kaba’s victory as hard earned. To him the elections went on itch free. As to whether the elections were illegal? Mr Tambe said it was beyond him to say. The retired Delegate for sports and physical education, president of several football teams in the South West and now member of the normalization Committee of FECAFOOT has thus come to the end of his mission to the Northwest region after the adoption of the FECAFOOT statutes and Elections at various levels.

Elected delegates from the regions will converge on Yaounde come November 29, 2014 in search for the successor of Iya Mohammed who following  his detention has excluded him from the race.