Stadiums in the six host cities of the African Cup of Nations, Afcon, and fan zones spawned across Cameroon have been fielding up with spectators, among them a chunk of CPDM militants.
During the build up to the Afcon, the Head of State Paul Biya in his end-of-year address to the nation beckoned [on] Cameroonians to go to the stadiums and watch matches. A clarion call that the Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement, CPDM, Jean Nkuété re-echoed in a press statement on January 4, 2022. He tasked permanent delegations in host regions, and CPDM elected officials (mayors) to mobilise football supporters and fans to the stadium. But the mobilisation was timid, and matches were played in almost empty stadiums. Apart from the opener between Cameroon and Burkina Faso at the Olembe Stadium, and the Egypt-Nigeria game in Garoua. Something had to be done. Elite of the ruling party, CPDM mayors, and the government took measures to get fans into the stadiums.
Elite of the West region chipped in, to fill up the Kouekong Stadium, which is 10km from the centre of Bafoussam town. Minister Célestine Ketcha Courtès, who is CPDM Section President of Nde Nord – Banganté, offered 300 tickets to fans. While the Mayor of the same area Eric Niat ferried fans to-and-fro from his municipality. Several of his colleagues did same. Since the stadium is at the outskirts of Bafoussam, the President of the local organising committee of Afcon, governor Awa Fonka Augustine , the city Mayor, and other elite provided buses for the second day matches of Group B. These authorities were also in the field to watch the matches even though it was not Cameroon playing. More or less, the same formula was applied in Limbe during day two matches of Group F. From Limbe and its satellite towns such as Buea, Mutengene and Tiko, fans were ferried to the Ngeme Ominisport stadium that seats next to the Atlantic Ocean, and below mount Cameroon. Reports say members of the YCPDM Fako IC thronged the stadium in huge numbers, mobilised by their president, Karen Tanga who is also interim City Mayor.
As CPDM elite, elected officials and permanent delegations rallied football supporters, government took a booster shot. The Prime Minister, Head of Government on instructions of the Head of State Paul, in a communique signed by the Secretary General of the PM’s office trimmed workings hours to 2 from 3:30 pm within the public service, and closing time for schools was brought down to 1pm during match days – from January 17 to February 4, 2022. As a result, there was a massive turnout for the Indomitable Lions’ game against Cape Vert at the Olembe Stadium, and the match between Burkina Faso and Ethiopia in Bafoussam, both encounters played at 5pm.
Jude VIBAN
