Walter Wilson Nana
Buea, Cameroon.
The main football stadium in Cameroon’s political capital, Yaounde, christened “Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium” has been closed down. The Director of the stadium ordered the closure, this reporter learnt.
According to the stadium director’s communiqué, the closure is to enable some refurbishment take place on the green turf and general repairs across the structure that was built more than forty years ago. Until September 8 2013 that the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon take on their Mediterranean Knights of Libya in that stadium, it has been closed from all national and international matches.
YaoundeAhmadou Ahidjo stadium currently undergoing repairs to welcome more fans while being safe too
Information gathered have it that the closure of the Yaounde Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium is at the behest of the Coach of the Indomitable Lions, German-born Volker Finke. Finke is said not to be comfortable with the current state of the stadium, especially the quality of the green turf and wants to play the last African Group I match in the world cup 2014 eliminatory against the Libyans in a well-managed stadium in Yaounde.
Following the closure that is already effective, MTN Elite I and II matches that were scheduled for the weekend of Saturday, August 17 2013 were programmed for the Confederation of African Football, CAF, Excellence Centre in Mbankomo, outskirts of Yaounde. These included the MTN Elite I matches pitting; Tonnerre of Yaounde Vs Sable of Batié and Renaissance of Ngoumou Vs Fovu of Baham, being matches for Day 21 action. For the MTN Elite II matches, counting for Day 21 also; Achille FC of Sa’a played against Cosmos of Bafia and Dragon of Yaounde took on Apejes of Mfou.
Another international football match that has been moved because of the aforementioned closure is the last round qualifier for the CHAN 2014 slated for South Africa. The match pitting the Intermediate Lions of Cameroon against their counterparts from the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, programmed for Saturday, August 24 2013 will be played at the Roumde Adja Stadium in Garoua, North Region of Cameroon and not in Yaounde as earlier programmed.
In a related development, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon have just rounded up a training camp in Lisses, a suburb of Paris, France, where Coach Volker Finke was in a company of twenty-eight players he summoned. The Paris camp is part of Finke’s strategies as he prepares the crucial game Against the Libyans in Yaounde come Sunday, September 8 2013.
