Auteur/autrice : TimesNews2

Hesterine Jannetje de Reus, technical expert within the framework of the UEFA ASSIST programme began a 10-day working visit in Cameroon. On Wednesday 15th January 2020, the first step of her working session was marked by an open exchange with the staff of the national academy of football (ANAFOOT). During discussions, the General Manager of ANAFOOT made a brief presentation of the objectives and missions of the 5-year-old academy. Carl Enow Ngachu equally highlighted the various programmes and training granted to young passionate footballers, video analysts, team managers, team press officers and sports’ journalists. FIFA expert questioned the staff on the type and quality of training offered to young footballers, coaches and local players both at the division one and two championships. Much is expected from the technical expert, former dutch player and coach well known for her sense of professionalism. The UEFA-ASSIST programme running for one year entails supporting and developing women’s football. UEFA ASSIST aims to increase solidarity and enhance football development to tackle the needs of national associations and confederations out of Europe. « Cameroon played in the world cup some few times ago and did quite well and we think it is a very good idea to get support from UEFA Assist to further develop women’s football in order to be more competitive on the international scene. We need to collaborate on how I can assist in terms of coach education, exchange programmes,» she said. Victorine Fomum, deputy Director in charge of the training centre in ANAFOOT said there is need to have assistance in terms of materials, programmes and reconvention. She added the fact that there should be a plan of action for young girls that grow with the desire to be football professionals and by the way ensure Cameroon can improve on her participation in world tournaments and go beyond the 8th finals’ stage. Apart from holding talks with the President of the Cameroon football federation, Presidents of local clubs, Hesterine de Reus is expected to move to Douala, Littoral region where she will follow some clubs on the pitch. An exhibition encounter with national players, division one matches, and a grassroots festival to gather close to 200 female players, age between 8 to 12 is expected to feature on the agenda of her working visit in Cameroon from January 14 to 24. Mrs de Reus’ visit comes just some few months after the putting in place of the Female Football League in Cameroon under the chairmanship of Celine Eko.     By Elise Kenimbeni

The highly awaited African Cup of  Nations will take place from January 9 to February 6, 2021, in Cameroon. The date of the competition was unveiled on January 15, 2020, after a CAF/Cameroon meeting in Yaounde. Visiting CAF delegates have been holding talks with Cameroonian football authorities since the 13th of January 2020. Many issues have been reviewed ahead of the two major jamborees the country will host as from next April. According to our sources, acting President of the Confederation of African Football said he is convinced the hosting of the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon will be a success. Ahmad Ahmad has praised the engagement and determination of Cameroon’s Head of state in ensuring a smooth and befitting organization of the competition. The official announcement of the date of the 2021 AFCON breaks suspense and rumours around a co-hosting of the 33rd competition. Countries that will take part in this tournament will be known as from November 9, when the ongoing qualifying games will end.     By Elise Kenimbeni

The President of the Confederation of African Football is in Yaounde, Cameroon for a three-day working visit. Since the arrival of the CAF boss on January 13, 2020, in Yaounde Cameroon, many controversial issues have been brought at the limelight. The visit of Ahmad Ahmad is not greatly welcome. Many argue Ahmad has come to put pressure on Cameroon who continues to lag behind in terms of infrastructures. Others say he is in Cameroon to retrieve the hosting of the most cherished AFCON 2021. According to a press release, the President of the CAF is in the country for a series of crucial meetings with Cameroonian authorities. Ahmad is holding talks with members of the organizing committees of the upcoming CHAN 2020 and the 2021 AFCON to be hosted by Cameroon. It is expected during the visit of Ahmad to have clear indications on the exact date the country will host the African football cup of nations.  Major points on his visit will be unveiled to the press by Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, sports and physical education Minister on January 15.   By TimesNews2  

Team Cameroon lost the challenge against Kenya’s malkia strikers in a tight encounter of more than two hours. The Kenyan girls overpowered the lionesses of Cameroon in a 3sets to 2 (25-16, 23-25, 25-21, 23-25,15-11) giving them the advantage to seal their ticket for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games. Christelle Nana and her mates, in spite of all the spikes and blocks, could not win their opponents who made use of better tactical strategies till the tie-break. The girls of Coach Jean René Akono, who at a moment showed signs of fatigue a gave all the best throughout this thrilling and decisive encounter. In the post-match press conference, the team captain of the lionesses admitted they made few mistakes due to lack of experience of some new players and maybe because of stress and pressure. She congratulated the Kenyan side and said they will compete as usual in their last game against Egypt. Mercy Moim, captain of Kenya said the win over Cameroon is more than a celebration for her. It is a historical moment, knowing the tussle they have in common while on the field. Both nations have shown their supremacy in the African continent as underscored by Paul Bitok, head coach of Kenya. Kenya registers 8 points while Cameroon 7. The victory of Cameroon’s team over Egypt on Wednesday 8th January will highly depend on the match between Nigeria and Kenya if the Malkia strikers fail to pick a good number of points on Thursday. By Elise Kenimbeni

Young and talented Iza Cathy Ambassa is one of the discoveries in the 2020 Tokyo Women’s Olympic qualifiers in Yaounde, Cameroon. Iza Cathy Ambassa, 17, is described as one of the most important discoveries of the Cameroonian volleyball federation during the last winter season. In the first game against Botswana, the youngest player of the national squad moved the public through her game full of engagement and passion. Despite the slight mistakes registered during the two matches against Botswana and Nigeria, she has been able to stand firm and show proof of humility through some signs of apologies to her team mates. Joyful in her way of playing, the jersey number 8 of Cameroon’s women volleyball team, has been on several balls without any fear. Her talent and passion for volleyball were more highlighted in the match against Kenya on January 7, 2020. The unstoppable young Libero demonstrated she is worthy of trust by her national coach, Jean René Akono. Ambassa plays with Rhône Alpes, a regional club in France. The 1metre 63 of height and 66 kilogrammes player is presented as one of the best Libero of her generation. According to observers, she is a volleyball player who is gaining strength in the discipline as time passes by. Very young, she became interested in volleyball. She made her junior debut at the age of 12. Her reaction to the playground shows that she is very thoughtful. However, the size of the player with a promising future as a receiving attack shatters the dreams of her supervisors. After much thought, she was converted to Libero. In this position, she panics all records and therefore presents herself as one of the major assets of her team. “Besides being a group leader, she is very attentive. She has a very good reading of the game and the trajectory of the ball”, describes her club’s coach, Cédric Partouche. From a Caledonian mother and a Cameroonian father, her concern, like all champions, lies in her demand for perfection. “When she sets goals, she has no right to fail or to be mean. She is a real warrior,” Cédric Partouche said.    By Elise Kenimbeni

Ahead of the competition, Cameroon has fine-tuned strategies in a bid to secure a place in the upcoming world games. Team Cameroon led by Simon Burchard Menguede has been on camp since November 2019 with 21 players called up for the training session in Yaounde. « In Tunisia, Cameroon will do more better than in 2018 in Gabon where she was eliminated in the first phase of the competition. And during our intense preparations, we had as main objective to accentuate efforts in order to have our qualification ticket for the world men’s handball competition in 2021 » said the national team’s coach, Simon Burchard Menguede in an interview. The Lions of handball expected on the Tunisian soils on the 7th of January will challenge in group C, host nation and titleholder, Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire, and Cape Verde. In group A; Egypt, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, and Kenya. Group B is made up of; Angola, Gabon, Nigeria, and Libya while in group D we find Morroco, Algeria, Congo, Senegal, and Zambia. For the first time, 17 nations are taking part in the competition which mostly regrouped 10 to 12 teams. The 24th edition of the championship takes place from January 16 to 26, 2020 in Rades and Hammamet in Tunisia. This competition acts as the 2020 African qualifying tournament for the 2020 summer Olympic games in Tokyo, Japan, and the 2021 World Men’s handball championship to be hosted by Egypt. By Elise Kenimbeni  

The volleyball lionesses of Cameroon have defeated visiting Nigeria in a three sets to nil score in their second outing on January 6, 2020. Reigning African champion has shown its supremacy on their Nigerian opponents by winning 3sets to 0 (25-12,25-10,25-8). According to Christelle Nana Tchoudjang, team captain of the lionesses, they have been playing as usual with a lot of rigour from the beginning to the end and did not give root to their adversaries to gain confidence in them. « We don’t minimize our adversaries. All our matches are taken on serious notes with the aim to win. We know tomorrow it will be a difficult match but we will be out for a new victory and we shall play with all the energy necessary to challenge Kenya» she said. Nigeria’s head coach on his part acknowledged his team still has some flaws in terms of experience in international competitions. Samuel Ajayi, at the end of the match press conference, said; many of his girls are still students and young players with little experience in international championships contrary to Cameroon, Egypt and Kenya. He said the team came for ‘exposure’. The head coach, however, remains positive after their first game in the ongoing Tokyo Olympic games qualifiers in Yaounde, Cameroon. Nigeria will face Egypt in their second outing on January 7, 2020, at 4 pm meanwhile at 7 pm host country plays against Kenya in a high awaited duel. In the first game played on the 6th of January, the Kenyan team won Botswana 3 sets to 0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-18) making a clean record so far.   By Elise Kenimbeni