By Bakah Derick
The former captain of the senior men's National Football team of Cameroon has addressed an affectionate tribute to the Sultan and King of the Bamouns who passed on in the early hours on Monday 27 September 2021.
Describing the fallen former minister of Sports and President of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) his potential predecessor, as "our father", the four times African player of the year award winner notes "A veil of sadness and emotion has seized me since the announcement of the death of our father: His Majesty Ibrahim Mbombo Njoya, Sultan of the Bamouns."
The FECAFOOT presidential aspirant sees more to the passing on of the monarch.
"With the death of the Bamoun monarch, our country has lost a visionary king who was close to his people, a library, and a buffer for our common life. My affliction is also personal. I had the privilege to drink from the source of the immense wisdom of this man of peace." He writes
The super scale striker and football promoter celebrates the memory of a King and sports man."
"In my memory, he will remain a loving and wise father, a great connoisseur of the entire African sports ecosystem in general and Cameroon in particular. The death of Patriarch lbrahim Mbombo Njoya is a huge loss for our sports movement, but also for Cameroon in its diversity." Eto'o adds
"I join my voice to that of the Cameroonian people, who are mourning one of their leading personalities. And I pray to the Lord, our God, in his great magnanimity, to welcome our father, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Mbombo Njoya." He concludes
Born on the 27 September 1937, the revert Sultan Ibrahim Mbombo Njoya was not only King of the Bamouns but also served Cameroon in top Ministerial Functions. He led the youth and sports, Information, Territorial Administration amongst other ministries. Served as Ambassador, Senator, FECAFOOT President and died as Political bureau member of the ruling CPDM.
There are signs he will be brought back into the country soonest from Paris France despite being a Muslim. His passing on has been linked to COVID-19 related complications.