U.S.-Based Lebialem Youths Give Hope To Community Through Football

By Sonita Ngunyi Nwohtazie

BUEA, August 18, 2023 – Plagued for over five years by the ongoing socio-political crisis in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon, the Lebialem Division, greatly affected by the crisis can now breathe a sigh of relief through sporting activities.

With the hope of bringing her people back to division, some youths have organized sporting games like the Bishop Cup competition organized in Fontem and played at the Seat of Wisdom College football field. The competition gave hope to the population of Fontem, especially to the old, boys and girls with Nteseh defeating Takwe 1-0 to win the Bishop's Cup competition.

“Football is a game of love and peace. We decided to use this as a measure of drawing back the attention of our youths who have relocated to other towns to come back home,” said Nkemleke Eugine, Representative of the Atemkeng Foundation. “This activity gives hope, especially to the youths who have long forgotten about such sports in the division.”

To the organizers, the number of spectators who showed up in and out of the division was encouraging as the population had not witnessed such gatherings for over five years now.

“I am very happy with the number of people that turned out because it is a sign that people miss home and are ready to cultivate peace,” Nkemleke Eugine appreciated.

With the 2023/24 school year approaching, the smooth one-month run of the football competition in Fontem whetted the appetite of many youths in the division to return to school as they could picture themselves seating in classrooms at the Seat of Wisdom College Fontem watching the game.

“I want to go back to school because I miss learning, writing, and even my friends which I left in primary school. Watching this match reminds me of the wish I had to study here while still a pupil. I want to be amongst the first students to re-open the doors of this beautiful Seat of Wisdom College Fontem,” a student cries out.

“I am in support of innovation and back to school in Fontem that is why I decided to contribute to this football competition.  It has helped in the opening of the doors of our prestigious Seat of Wisdom college and will be a booster to other people who fled the division to know that things of such magnitude now happen in the division,”  USA based Edwin Nkemleke, sponsor of the Bishop's Cup competition said.

With all hopes already activated by such activities in Lebialem, many have called on elites of the division to come to the aid of the pupils and the student currently living in Fontem.

“If this competition could run smoothly, then it is time for these students to go back to school. I plead on other authorities of Lebialem division to help open the doors of the Seat of Wisdom College Fontem for these children to get a better education,” Edwin Nkemleke added.