The two Northwest teams in the Elite One Championship, Yong Sport Academy (YOSA) and PWD are currently struggling to raise their heads above the water level as the championship nears the end of the away phase. Both teams are currently poorly placed on the league table with YOSA holding on to the first spot from the bottom since the first day of play while PWD Bamenda continue to decline down the log following series of drawn games.
As we approach the 14th day of play, Yosa counts six points only after 12 games played. PWD Bamenda on the other hand is on 11 points in 12 matches played. A close scrutiny of these results show that not playing home games in Bamenda it having a very profound consequence on the performance of both teams.
PWD lies at the bottom of the log in terms of points won at home, barely two points in five supposed home matches, losing three (Gazelle 0-4, Victoria United 1-3 and As Fortuna 1-2) and drawing two (Union Douala 0-0 and Aigle Moungo 1-1) This is quite in contrast to the nine points picked on the road when the team shakes off the idea of home advantage playing away in Mbouda.
Instead when PWD feels they are playing away they have won two matches against Panthere (0-1) and YOSA (1-2) and drew three against Astres, Canon and Bamboutos.
Take YOSA, the team only betters Canon Sportif and PWD in terms of points racked up in home matches. YOSA has played seven home matches and won only one, against AS Fortuna in a 2-0 victory in their only match played in Bamenda. YOSA lost to PWD of Bamenda (1-3) Astres of Douala (1-3), Gazelle FC (1-4) and Cotonsport (0-2), only picking up home draws against Bamboutos and Colombe.
Fans of both teams believe that they are suffering due to lack of home advantage. The teams according to some sources close to both spend well over the other teams as they travel to play home matches in Mbouda or Bafoussam. An official of PWD who elected to remain anonymous said PWD spend to transport players, lodge and feed them in home matches, and that the gate taking are disappointingly very low. Citing the match against Fauve Azure that ended prematurely in Bamenda, he claimed that money made from the gate taking was enough to take care of some pressing financial problems of the team.
If such could continue he said, PWD will be well placed and even challenging for the championship given the added home support from the fans. Responding to why PWD performs better when playing its away matches he said its because the mentality, the focus, and support the team gets knowing the are not playing at home. He also cited the hostile and negative thoughts that surrounds the team when playing in Mbouda. With such poor results, he assured that the team has taken cognizance of it and will take appropriate steps to address it soon.
Both teams not playing in Bamenda is really challenging for both management and fans. City Web gathered that efforts are under way to ensure that these teams return home despite numerous opposition. The question most fans have on their lips is “who does not really want Bamenda teams to play at home?
This may be a rhetorical question but the truth is that there is an ill omen over our teams and if care is not taken, we may not be having an elite One team in the Northwest region next football season. Whose fault will this be?
