Auteur/autrice : TimesNews2

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

Host country, Cameroon defeated Botswana 3 sets to 0 in their first outing game on January 5, 2020 in Yaounde. The lionesses of volleyball, in the first set won 25 points to 17, in the second set, they took a large lead of 25 to 4 and the third set 27 to 25. Cameroon’s lionesses made a 9-0 run (with Christelle Nana Tchoudjang  serving), from 5-3 and another 11-0 run (with Berthrade Bikatal serving) from 13-4 in the second. Africa’s title holder led by coach, Jean René Akono is determined to grab the qualification ticket as it was the case in 2016. In their second game, team Cameroon will face Nigeria on Monday 6th January 2020 while Botswana will meet with Kenya. Earlier in this competition, the opening game put neck on neck, Kenya and Egypt. Kenya won Egypt 3sets to 1(23-25, 25-15, 25-21, 25-22). The two teams described as favourites in the competition moved the public with their game. Cameroon and Kenya hold a 1-2 win ration from 2019. Kenya beat Cameroon at the World Championships in Japan and at the Africa Games in Morocco. However, Cameroon beat Kenya to retain the Africa Cup of Nations in July 2019. The Africa Olympic qualifiers in Cameroon puts on scene five teams: the host-Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria and Botswana. Only the winner of the round-robin contest will seal the ticket to Tokyo in Japan.   By Elise Kenimbeni

La sélection nationale de handball masculin achève sa troisième phase de préparation en vue de la 24e Coupe d’Afrique des nations de handball masculin , Tunisie 2020 prévue du 16 au 26 janvier à Hammamet à Radès. Les Lions du handball quitteront le Cameroun ce week-end pour un stage d’acclimatation en Tunisie, en attendant la compétition. Le Cameroun a été tiré au sort dans le groupe C, celui de la Tunisie , pays hôte, champion en titre et dix fois tenant du titre de champion de la catégorie. Le Cameroun partagera également son groupe avec la Côte d’Ivoire et le Cap Vert. Le vainqueur de cette CAN sera qualifié pour les Jeux olympiques, Tokyo 2020 .Six pays seront qualifiés pour le 27e championnat du monde de handball masculin, Egypte 2021. Une séance d’entraînement est prévue ce vendredi 03 janvier 2020 au complexe sportif de la Garde présidentielle à partir de 15heures. Fecahand

The organizing comittee of the Cameroon sports awards made the announcement on December 26, 2019 in Yaounde.   During a press conferennce held in Yaounde, Cameroon, members of the organizing comittee granted some highlights on the second edition of the Cameroon sports awards formely known as CAEM awards. For the second edition, 21 categories will feature on the awards’ chart instead of 45 like the previous year(2018). The voting process closed last December 24 on social media like facebook, accounts for 30 percent while 70 percent of the other credits are awarded by the members of the scientific comittee. The President of the organizing comittee outlined the major innovations of the event scheduled for Sunday 29th December 2019 at the conference center in Yaounde. Joseph Patrick Balla said: « We have decided to group athletes, footballers, journalists, consultants etc. depending on their various disciplines or activities. And this year as main innovation, we have professional and amateur football, producers of sports’ programmes on competition ». « The Cameroon sports awards is out to recognize and celebrate our talents in the country. We are the first sponsor of our event. Accomodations of all the nominees are part of our budget. We therefore rely on the press to help us work on the situation of the laureates who for now just receive symbolic trophees with no financial stipend at the end» said the organizing comittee members. It was disclosed that, the national insurance fund is the main partner of the event. The National Insurance Fund has decided to accompany the Cameroon sports awards to better make understand to the public its social programmes and by the way celebrate sports talents, as underscored during discussions with media practitioners. Ahead of the gala night, two matches will be played on the 28th December, in memory of late Ghislaine Bebom, God mother of the Cameroon sports awards, who passed away in June 2019. A team of professional footballers, the Cameroon association of sports journalists, the national insurance fund and the organizing comittee will take part in this game.   By Elise Kenimbeni  

Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic has joined Qatari side Al-Duhail after four and a half years at Juventus. Mandzukic, 33, won four Serie A titles and three Coppa Italias, as well as scoring in the 2017 Champions League final as they lost 4-1 to Real Madrid. He has not played this season under Maurizio Sarri and was linked with Manchester United in the summer. “The last few months will not change the respect and love I feel for the club,” said Mandzukic. “It has been a privilege to play for Juventus. I have always tried to do my best for the Bianconeri. I wish you the best. And for me, it’s time for a new chapter.” Mandzukic has joined Al-Duhail on a free transfer. They are managed by Jose Mourinho’s former assistant Rui Faria and sit four points clear at the top of the Qatar Stars League. Former Juventus team-mate Medhi Benatia, who joined Al-Duhail in January, posted on Twitter: “Welcome Mario Mandzukic to Duhail and your new adventure in Qatar. “We have already won many trophies together, and it’s time to add more to the list. I know that you are more than ready for the challenge… look forward to seeing you.” Former Bayern Munich striker Mandzukic scored 44 goals in 162 appearances for Juventus since joining the club in July 2015. He retired from international football in August 2018, a month after he scored in the World Cup final as Croatia lost 4-2 to France.   From BBC Sports News