GOLDAS completes 25 team draws for FCFA 10M worth Championship in Bamenda

By Bakah Derick in Bamenda 

The draws for the first ever Golden Age Soccer better known by the name GOLDAS championship have been made in Bamenda.

The draws involving some 25 teams from the Bamenda confederacy were made Saturday March 16 during an event chaired by GOLDAS founder and President Dr Ngiejung Nabil.

 

Dr Ngiejung Nabil addressing the draws event

Speaking prior to the draws, Dr Ngiejung explained to the many who answered present that the objectives of GOLDAS as a sports discipline is to consolidate global peace and unity through effective emotional and psychological management especially amongst youths.

Though being a new sports discipline, the President disclosed that the teams will be playing to share a cash prize of FCFA 10M without any registration. He justifies the financial availability saying that “GOLDAS is not a thought overnight and attempted over day.   It has been a journey of 12years of a clear vision and precise objectives. It has taken us out of us out of the country where it has been able to win a lot of international recognition and support. We are not talking of a 10 million which is to come. We are talking of 1omillions we have been saving for the past 12years preparing for this as part of the long term goal of the project.”

 

GOLDAS Board members and friends

Conceived out of traditional football, GOLDAS though with different rules and nomenclatures as well as playground shape and dimensions, is expected to empower youths with values that will improve their employability status as they on in life, curb the problem of development and empowerment in Cameroon.

Coming at the peace is highly in demand in the NW region with different government agencies using various forms to talk peace; Dr Nabil however noted that this was not one of those initiatives. “The fact that GOLDAS started first in 2007 which means before the era of the current crisis, it tells us that it was not designed for this crisis. It was designed for humanity.” He further explained that GOLDAS has been pioneered in South Africa as a way of solving some of the post-apartheid traumas of that country means other countries and not just Cameroon are benefiting from it. He however noted that it is coincidence that it is launched in Cameroon and Bamenda in times of crisis. He however maintained if the competition could mitigate the crisis, it will obviously be considered secondary benefits which will not be a bad idea though the primary objectives are to provide employment and opportunities youth talents through a game loved by many. “Coincidence should not be misconstrued. The current chaos of the nation should not be directly interpreted. GOLDAS is an independent body like any other international sporting association. It is true that sometimes national Federations maybe influence to stair towards some national agendas but our constitution is clear; we are apolitical.” He said

 

Dr Ngiejung Nabil talks to the Press

Staying by the GOLDAS concepts of employment and empowerment of the people, Dr Nabil told the press that they had all the human resource required to successful run the completion with 25 that have shown interest to participate by taking part in the draws. “The number is overwhelming but we have been ready for this. We started in 2009 like a joke by training the first pioneer members but currently GOLDAS has 250 permanent recruited staff specialized in various departments like games, health, security, arts and cultures, training and so on.”  He explained.

As the competition starts March 30, Dr Nabil has also announced the movement of some staff to interested CEMAC and ECOWAS countries by April to start training officials ahead of the international competition adding that by the end of the year everything being equal Cameroon will host the CEMAC championship. GOLDAS founder presented the tournament jerseys with space for sponsor logos saying that they were interested in best offers as many were already lining up. The participating teams have pledged to stay by the principles of the discipline which promises to provide solutions to all internal misunderstandings.

Presentation of Tournament Jerseys

Speaking in Bamenda Saturday February 2, during the launching of the Confederacy and tournament, Dr Ngiejung Nabil, the man believed to have re-scienced football, explained the games terminologies and rules.