Atezambong Fomo Carine: A Woman Where Men Tread

Aged 32, the Assistant FIFA Referee and Senior Physical Education and Sports Instructor says her career is a dream come-true.

Atezambong Fomo Carine, 32, is a Senior Physical Education and Sports Instructor and a Federation of International Football Association, FIFA, Assistant Football Referee. Becoming a football referee was a dream come true. She began taking interest in sports in Form One and with time, got involved in Karate, winning a brown belt.

But on getting to university, Atezambong discovered that Karate was not included in university games, obliging her to switch to Judo. She later won several medals both within and outside the country, also earning a brown belt. On getting admitted into the National Institute of Youth and Sports, INJS, Yaounde in 2008, Atezambong’s father advised her to read football refereeing, which he admires. Later in 2008, she began serving as a football referee in the Centre Regional League.

The following year, Atezambong was promoted to the First Division for women’s football. Not being satisfied with...