By Abongwa Fozo
Close to 3000 athletes representing secondary schools from across all 10 regions of Cameroon have converged on Abong Bang, East region of Cameroon for the 25th edition of the FENASCO League A games.
The Northwest region is highly represented with over 200 athletes and officials. The delegation led by the Regional Delegate of Secondary Education and accompanied by his colleague for Sports and Physical Education left Bamenda yesterday Afternoon and arrived Bertoua not long ago.
The Northwest will be participating in a number of disciplines including football, handball, basketball, volleyball in boys and girls categories, badminton, judo and track and field.
Mr. Julius Loh Nsom, Regional Delegate for Sports and Physical for the Northwest speaking over City FM Radio Bamenda upon arrival in Abong Bang regretted that some of the best athletes could not make it to the East region because they are sitting in for the GCE. “But we are hopeful to win medals” he added.
Initially progragrammed from April 5-12 the games were moved to May 24-31.
In a statement, Minister Nalova Lyonga indicated that the shift is meant to allow the grandstand to “get dry properly.“
That decision was approved by the Prime Minister, Joseph Dion Ngute and provided the organisers more time to finalize other preparations.
This year’s games will not include final year students (form five and upper sixth). Secondary Education Minister noted this was to allow them write the GCR which starts early June. But she promised that they will be substituted and given certificates of participation.
Last year, the City of Limbe played host to the games with over 2800 athletes taking part. The Centre region emerged overall first with 57 medals, 36 of which were in gold
The East Region last hosted the game in 2015, in the city of Bertoua.
Over the years the games have been noted for age cheating by some delegations. Some delegations go the length of recruiting athletes from proffesional teams to represent them.
But recently strides have been made to reduced this phenomenon. The introduction of the carte scolaire by the ministry of Secondary Education to track the registration and flow of students in the secondary school system is believed will help fight this.
