Cameroon: Edwin Eselem Champions Peace and Community Development Through Football

Mami Dinga FC triumphed 1-0 against Ngekes FC in the final of the Wotutu-Ewongo Inter Quarter Tournament on Sunday, September 1 aimed at promoting peace and community development

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

LIMBE, Cameroon – Mami Dinga FC, alias Victory Boys has been crowned champions of the 4^th edition of the Wotutu-Ewongo Inter-quarter Tournament, a community event dedicated to fostering peace and promoting development in the community. The tournament, which drew teams from across the community was more than just a competition, it was a celebration of unity and a shared commitment to build a stronger, more cohesive community.

The final, held at the Catholic School Wotutu-Ewongo football field on Sunday, September 1, saw Mami Dinga FC securing a 1-0 win over Ngekes FC, with the lone goal of the game scored by Ake Roland in the second half. The encounter was a nail-biting contest that kept spectators on the edge of their seats. Mami Dinga's victory was met with cheers from fans who had gathered in large numbers to witness the culmination of the tournament.

"I feel so happy winning the tournament today. It was not an easy game but I am happy that we emerged victorious. We prepared ourselves very well before this final and that is why we are victorious," Ake Roland, captain of Mami Dinga FC told Pan African Visions.

More than just a football competition

Organized by Edwin Eselem, PR and Communications Lead for the Basketball Africa League, BAL, the Wotutu-Ewongo Tournament, now in its fourth year, aimed to promote peace and community development within the local community. Amidst the socio-political upheavals in the region, the tournament provided a platform for young people to engage in positive activities and build strong bonds to better their community.

Edwin Eselem said: “It's a feeling of satisfaction. The job is well done because the most important thing is the happiness and the joy that we bring to the community. Over the last eight weeks, we've had an amazing tournament, and as you rightly mentioned, we have lots of people coming in, and friends, supporting from all over the world, from the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Africa, and some are even here present to support this tournament that we started in the middle of the pandemic in 2021.”

“What we are doing is beyond football. It's about bringing joy to the community, and just not to repeat myself, this community is one of the villages that was hardly hit by the Anglophone crisis, and we noticed that about 80% of the villagers, including women and children, fled during the crisis. So, this tournament was a tool to bring hope back to this community after the very difficult period that Wotutu had.

Edwin Eselem added: “So, over the years, we've had tremendous support from friends from all across the board. We have entrepreneurs, we have university dons, we have engineers, we have members of parliament, and all these great people who are supporting us. It just shows that sport is not only a tool for recreation, it's a tool for bringing solidarity, togetherness, and also, the most important thing is preaching peace because these kids are really happy.”

The tournament featured teams representing different quarters of Wotutu-Ewongo. Over eight weeks, the teams competed in a series of matches that showcased not only their athletic prowess but also their commitment to fair play and mutual respect. The event was marked by a festive atmosphere adding to the celebratory spirit.

Colonel Omer Bayen said: “My feelings are one of elation, I'm elated. It's a wonderful initiative especially what's going on now with the insecurity and the war, so I can call it. But we have people, bringing people together like this I think it's a wonderful initiative. I hope it continues like this for the foreseeable future.

A competition for community development

As champions, Mami Dinga FC was awarded the tournament's coveted trophy, along with medals and a cash prize. The team's success has already sparked enthusiasm among local youth, many of whom aspire to follow in the footsteps of their new local heroes.

“I want to use this opportunity that is given to me by members of the media to call on the stakeholders, the local authorities of the village, and the people who are in charge of making decisions about this village, to look at this competition as a platform where we can develop this community, look at the state of the pitch. It's very poor, so we can use this opportunity to make this community better because it's a great platform of exposure to this beautiful hamlet that we love to call Wotutu,” Edwin Eselem said.

“It's a very big challenge because there are a lot of things that we want to fix. First of all, the quality of the pitch. We want to have a great pitch that, young people can be able to play great football. We want to have more visitors coming here to support us. Also drum up more support from the various stakeholders, including, the local authorities, the people in the village, because we are doing this for our kids, but also the community.”

The success of the Wotutu-Ewongo Inter-Quarter Tournament has underscored the power of sports to bring people together and drive community development. With plans already underway for next year's event, the tournament has become a beacon of hope and unity, proving that, through sports, the Wotutu-Ewongo community can continue to build a brighter future for all.