Walter Wilson Nana
Buea, Cameroon
The dismal and disgraceful performance of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the ongoing 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil is aching not only to the people and government of Cameroon. Citizen-oriented and leading brewery company, Les Brasseries Du Cameroun, BRASSCAM, which is also a promoter of sports and football in particular, has begun engaging discussions on the betterment of Cameroon football.
At a Friday, June 20 2014 meeting in the premises of Les Brasseries Du Cameroun Regional Office in Ombe, Southwest Region, officials of the company, led by the Regional
Michel Mvondo (2nd from right) BRASSCAM Southwest Regional Manager, follow with deep interest the discourse on the betterment of Cameroon football
boss, Michel Mvondo, the press, some coaches and local officials in the divisional delegation of sports and physical education did not only share ideas on the way forward but gave insights on how the 2014 TOP CUP Competition organised by the aforementioned company will unfold.
Mvondo said BRASSCAM over the years, via the TOP CUP Competitions recruits players, trains them and give them to the government, who run and manage football and other sporting disciplines in the country. “The government is in charge of managing football, we as a company joins
BRASSCAM Southwest Regional Manager for Publicity, Andre Nkem explains to journalists and other officials how TOP CUP 2014 will unfold
them to develop the sector. We cannot take many actions. We come in to support government policy and we are ready to furnish government with bright ideas,” he noted.
According to Mvondo, it is same spirit they apply in the National Song Competitions and the award of prizes to best students across the country organised by BRASSCAM.
He will be corroborated by the BRASSCAM Southwest Regional Manager
Some of the local coaches present at the meeting in BRASSCAM Regional Centre in Ombe
for Sales, Gustave Zoa, who indicated that they are principally a brewery company but being a citizen-focussed institution, they move out to support the efforts of government. “At the regional level, BRASSCAM makes available FCFA 150 Million for the organisation of the TOP CUP Competition. For the ten regions, it is a huge sum of money we pump into the growth of Cameroon football. That is what we do. We are looking out for ideas to make the TOP CUP Competitive and help government make Cameroon football
Gilbert Fuh (L) of BRASSCAM, Ombe and Mrs Mbua, Fako Divisional Delegate of Sports & Physical Education discuss the success of TOP CUP 2014
better,” Zoa explained.
From the background of the shameful acts exhibited by Cameroonian players at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the press men and women, the coaches and other related officials invited, mentioned that there is need to revamp football at all levels in Cameroon and the putting in place of suitable infrastructure to accompany the talents embedded in the players. “We must have a well organised professional football league, whereby the actors; players, coaches and others involved in the chain make a living out of their talents,” a journalist noted.
One of the coaches mentioned that the development of sports and football in particular should go with human resource development, saying that players must be given the opportunity to go along with their education, especially civic education, while those interested in football management should be trained as football educators.
On how the TOP CUP 2014 is going to unfold, BRASSCAM Southwest Regional Publicity Manager, Andre Nkem said the competition, which is the oldest youth football jamboree, organised in Cameroon, is one of the major activities of BRASSCAM that helps to detect and prepare the future of Cameroon football.
Nkem explained that the TOP CUP is a non-lucrative and non-profitable action by BRASSCAM, with the intention to keep the youths busy during the long holidays in the country, while opening the gateway to the BRASSCAM Football School for the most talented young footballers.
The BRASSCAM official recalled that the likes of; Rigobert Song Bahanack, Geremi Soreille Njitap, Pierre Nlend Wome, Salomon Olembe, Samuel Fils Eto’o, who constitute the cream of Cameroonian footballers, have passed through the tournament, which takes place in all the ten regional capitals of the country and in some divisional headquarters. “We have had more 4,000 players, each year, taking part with a budget of more than FCFA 115 Million that BRASSCAM disburses for each region every year,” he said.
The TOP CUP 2014 edition will run from June 30 to July 26 in the following towns in Cameroon; Doula(hosting four sites), Edea, Kribi, Nkongsamba, Mbanga, Yaounde(hosting four sites too), Ebolowa, Eseka, Bertoua, Akonolinga, Bafoussam, Bangangte, Dschang, Bamenda, Buea, Tiko, Limbe, Kumba, Guider, Garoua, Maroua and Ngaoundere.
A release from BRASSCAM also indicates that the registration for TOP CUP 2014, which opened Monday, June 2 will end on Tuesday, June 25 in all BRASSCAM distribution centres nationwide. Participants are expected amongst other requirements to be of age, 13, be of male gender, must have a birth certificate, be in possession of the 2013/2014 academic report card, present a medical certificate of fitness and an authorisation from the parent to take part in the competition.
Nkem said the organising committee of TOP CUP 2014 has as main objective to make the tournament a football festival, adding that 88 children will be preselected from the expected 4,000, who would have taken part in the competition. “The 88 preselected will be invited to the BRASSCAM Football School in Douala on Wednesday, July 30 for the final selection of 18 that will be granted admission into first year in the BRASSCAM Football School. A list of the 88 preselected players will be made public on Saturday, July 26 2014.”
