By Sonita Ngunyi
BUEA, Cameroon – South West flag bearer Victoria United goes into the MTN Elite 1 Playoffs UP with a lot to prove. Being one of the most crucified, talked about, teams in the Elite One championship this season, Victoria United has undergone several mockeries and praises to hold up to her slogan One People One Power, OPOPO.
The lone flag bearer of the South West region in the MTN Elite One championship will participate in the playoffs UP after finishing third on the classification table with 24 points following their appeal won against Yong Sports Academy, YOSA.
Since its ascension into the elite championship, the team has been on the lips of many, with remarks of match-fixing, favouritism from FECAFOOT, dual identification and point deduction. But all these did not change the goal and objectives of the season for the Limbe-based club.
Victoria United started the Elite One championship on a winning scale against Fauve Azure in Yaoundé trashing her opponents 2-1. Opopo, however, suffered after this victory going weeks without recording any points, with defeats in between. Victoria United only won its first home game during the last phase of the competition in Limbe.
The bizarre turn of events during the regular championship saw Victoria United fail to show up for their game against Apejes of Mfou. After appearing in the pre-match technical meeting, Victoria United failed to show up, with the game subsequently awarded to Apejes, with Alingang Emmanuel sanctioned for dual identification.
To pursue her objectives of playing the CAF champions as earlier mentioned by the club president Nkwain Valentine during the start of the season, hard work and professionalism have been the song in the minds of her players who went unbeaten for eight games during the last round of the championship.
Failing to win her last 3 games to smoothly gain a spot in the playoffs, Victoria United used the FECAFOOT Disciplinary Code on dual identification against Avion Academy and Yong Sports (YOSA). The text prescribes a team forfeiting the match if an ineligible player is used in a game. The verdict announced saw Victoria United gain five points and qualify for the playoffs.
According to several speculations regarding the dual identification provisional list released by FECAFOOT, it was a way of avoiding teams appealing for points administratively. It should be echoed that the South West side was equally affected by the investigation as seven of her players including Wilfred Nathan Douala and Richmond Nji were declared ineligible.
Following an appeal, both players have now been declared eligible for the playoffs. However, it should be remembered that Wilfred Nathan Douala was one of the players who left our local championship for the national team and his call-up created a lot of controversies because of his age.
According to several sports websites in the country, like LN Foot, Victoria United tops the list of the most professional clubs in the championship. The team has a well-equipped gym meant for her players and is currently constructing her players resident which in the days ahead will be completed. Aside from construction, the club is equally one of the teams to have an up-to-date pay slip for all her players, according to information by OPOPO.
In a bit to continue its professionalism, Victoria United announced a few days ago on their social media handle a groundbreaking partnership agreement with Turkish side Antalyaspor. of the transfer process of two of their players including Wilfred Nathan who has been on the frontline of several sports reports.
As Sunday 24 March approaches, the team is positive as they have been playing a series of friendly games to better equip themselves. The South West side will clash with Dynamo of Douala on Sunday march 24th at the Mbappe–Leppe stadium at exactly 4 pm counting for the first round of play.
“We are already a few days to our first game in the playoffs. We know that with the several number of friendly games that we have played to prepare for the playoffs, we can say that our players are ready to battle for the title at the end of the competition,” Kang Elvis, Communication Officer Victoria United told Pan African Visions.
