Walter Wilson Nana
Buea, Cameroon
Charline Flore Demgne got into sports reporting by appointment, today, she is a two-time awards winner. This journalist with the Cameroon Radio and Television, CRTV, urban station in Buea, Mount Cameroon FM is the winner of the Press Sportive Award for the Best Sports Reporter 2013 in Cameroon.
The sports caster made the difference in her category with a 5-minute-20-second report she did on how the Njalla Quan Sports Academy, NQSA, is faring after the death of the founder, Mr Henry Njalla Quan, former GM of the Cameroon Development Corporation,
Two-time award winner, Charline Flore Demgne
CDC. “I respected the timing prescribed by the organisers of the awards, the Cameroon Association of Sports Journalist, CASJ and looked at how the NQSA was amongst the first two teams to put into practice the quest to professionalise Cameroon’s football. I found out how the management of the team pursued that process, after the first attempt from Cotonsport of Garoua,” she said.
In 2012, Charline Flore won the CASJ
Charline Flore Demgne(L) presents her award to her boss, David Chuye Bunyui, Director, CRTV Southwest Regional Station
award for Best Sports Reporter – Radio, where she presented a report, carried on CRTV National Station’s Programme, Sports En Plus on the state of football stadia across the Southwest Region, the case of Limbe and the ongoing construction of a new stadium in that municipality.
According to this mother of one (a boy), she was not interested in sports reporting as a journalist but her motivation came in 2006 when she was appointed Deputy Chief of Sports Desk at Mount Cameroon FM, Buea, with her Sports Desk Editor being Matute Menyoli. “This appointment roped me into the world of sports reporting and I picked up the virus, initially for the sake of curiosity. As I moved on, I felt the excitement,” she noted.
She enjoys what she is doing, not only commenting football matches and other sporting events like the Mount Cameroon Race in Buea but doing documentaries and specialised reports. Despite the joyful moments in the world of sports reporting, Charline Flore has some challenges she quickly remembers. “I can never forget the violent scene in 2007 at the Molyko Stadium in Buea during an MTN D1 League match, pitting Mount Cameroon FC against Fovu of Baham. Violence erupted on the pitch as the fans of Mount Cameroon FC invaded the playground as Fovu was leading their team. Unable to contain the fans of the home team, the police shot tear gas into the air as I ran for my dear live, while avoiding not to be suffocated and stampeded. I remember how my boss, Matute Menyoli saw me as a reporter and not as a woman, assigning me to do coverage, even with my pregnancy and some time working at odd hours. However, these strengthened me and entrenched my passion for the job. I say thanks to Matute.”
However, Charline Flore is more than ever before motivated to do the business of sports reporting. “I will continue going on and look out for new challenges. I have covered other national events and now look forward to greater things. The 2014 World Cup in Brazil is there and the women in sports reporting can also do the job as the men. Madeleine Soppi Kotto is the only woman in that domain at the CRTV National Station. Let some of us join her and boost the coverage team from Cameroon to Brazil 2014,” she mentioned.
She saw a brighter future for sports reporting in Cameroon, while entreating younger colleagues to be courageous, motivated but prudent in what they do. “They have to watch out in their facts and the authenticity of their information. In sports reporting you do not rush to break the news when you do not have the facts. That is advice from my mentors; the veteran sports reporter, Kevin Njomo, Valerie Dikos Oumarou, the boss of CRTV FM 94 station in Yaoundé and Raphael Nkoa, Team Press Officer of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and sports caster at CRTV FM 94, Yaoundé. I also wish that we have an organised sporting calendar for the nation. It will facilitate our work in the field.”
Single and available, Charline Flore has this message to her fans; “The best is yet to come. I am working hard for you and look forward to do more. My listeners are dear to my heart.”
The Press Sportive Awards organised by CASJ and Orange Cameroun took place recently at the Douala Bercy Concert Hall with about thirty categories on the roll call.
Recruited into CRTV and posted to Mount Cameroon FM, Buea, since 2000, Charline Flore has been working for 13 years.
