National Communion

Sports, in general and football in particular, continue to be a unifying factor in Cameroon as was seen again yesterday Sunday 2 December, 2018 at the 59th Cup of Cameroon final. President Paul Biya as usual took advantage of the event to have his first communion with the population after the last oath-taking exercise on 6 November, 2018 in parliament where he engaged on another seven-year mandate as President of the Republic of Cameroon.

The event saw the award of trophies to some 78 athletes, winners from different federations in the course of the 2017-2018 season. The popular turn out by spectators was also evident of the harmony that the Head of State and the people sought to seal around the sports movements in the country. Even along the road to and from the Presidency, the Head of State had people lined up cheering and chanting as his motorcade drive pass.

Football, which has over the years been considered as the king of sports in the country was logically the main focus during the event yesterday with Lion Blessé of Fotouni in the West Region and Eding Sport of Lekié from the Centre Region which made it to the national football final this year. The spectacular football displayed by both clubs ended one zero in favour of Eding that took home the trophy. The other winners who received medals and cups from the hands of the Head of State took home the message of how hard work pays. Cameroon has a tradition of rewarding all meritorious sports winners at the end of each year and the underlining idea is to encourage others to emulate such examples of distinction and efficiency in sports. By insisting on presiding at such national ceremonies, the Head of State is out to share with the youth and demonstrate support for young men and women ready to fly the national flag both at home and abroad. Coming as the first public ceremony for Mr Biya after he took the commitment in front of Cameroonians as Head of State on 6 November, 2018, the display of joy and satisfaction that was manifested by the players, spectators and officials at the football cup final showed a sense of national concord. Thus, apart from the trophies distributed to the winners this year, many felt privileged to file past the Head of State to mark their love for country like others before them in the past years.

Choreographic displays by over 500 youth drawn from the ten regions of Cameroon and the performances the...