From the Mountain to the Grassroots

The Diminishing Returns of Mount Cameroon FC

Just a few vehicles passing by broke the silence as I skipped over the pot holes that rainy afternoon. A wide open gate welcomed me as I stood starring at nature in disbelief. Off the main road, I followed the trace of the wheels which had just left their mark on the campus entrance left marshy by excessive rain. Parked in front of me was a 70-seater bus. We are in Liongo-Muea in the outskirts of Buea, South West region of Cameroon. This is where Mount Cameroon FC was created in 1997 by Hon. Calvin Foinding.

The rain had its fair share of the MCFC entrance

Reports hold that the ex parliamentarian created this club after he fell out of favour with the staff and supporters of Stade Bandjoun, a club that fed fat from his financial largesse,though he has always dismissed such claims. AMount Cameroon FC of Buea, a football club and an academy that gave youths in Buea and those around the region hope. Mount Cameroon FC of Buea took football in the region to the pinnacle in 2002 when they became the first club in the region and second West of the Mungo to lift the Cup of Cameroon.

Hon. Foinding(L) presenting the Cup of Cmr to then PM Inoni

Over a decade on, I am staring at an empty bus in a silent campus. This is the bus that transported the players to the 2002 triumph- that carried Enoh Eyong, Atem Valentine, Fomen Charly, Mokake Elvis and co to their various paths of stardom. The bus has really stood the test of time. So too has the entire structure apart from the unused basketball court. 

This bus transported Enoh Eyong to stardom

As I forge ahead into the campus, I start getting constant noise. ‘’Left, left, right...,’’ familiar shouts from a coach on the training ground. Then I finally see a familiar face - that of  Mutia Jonathan, the defender the media and fans affectionately called ‘’Batamo’’ in those days.

Familiar face: Batamo grooming the next generation of  MCFC talent

He is now coach of Mount Cameroon FC and is in a practice session with the Under -14 squad of the academy. The former defender takes us through life in the academy since their relegation back in 2009. Gone are the days when the club used to purchase the best talents in the country; they are now promoting their own academy products through the ranks to the first team, that is playing in the South West regional league. They are back to grassroots football.

MCFC:Back to grassroot football

The kids are brimming with confidence as they heed to instructions from their coach in preparation for an U-14 friendly tournament in Douala, Cameroon's economic capital. Ngeh Nelson is one of the brightest prospects of the academy. For a 13-year-old, his imposing physique is extraordinary and his hold up play is impeccable. No wonder he views Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski as his idol. He could as well be the next Eyong Enoh or Atem Valentine to graduate from the academy. The kids are taught the basis of football: how to pass, how to receive a pass as well physical exercises. They are too young to be taught tactics, we are told.

Ngeh Nelson, MCFC star in the making?

Here, I discover the realities of grassfield football in Cameroon: the coaches have very limited resources to groom these kids into tomorrow's stars. The balls used in training are donations from a friend who plays in the UK, coach Batamo tells us. Few of the kids have the regular playing boots and have thus resorted to local-made rubber boots -they are not fazed, all they want is to become professional footballers.

Despite a lack of training equipment the kids are determined

After two hours of intense training, the football academicians return to their rooms for rest after taking some energy-replacing snacks. They are all later expected to get up early in the evening and as a family have supper at 7.00 pm before watching the opening game of the French Ligue 1 an hour later between Lille and Paris Saint Germain. They are back in bed after the game looking forward to the next day which starts with breakfast at 7.00 am  and the early morning training session an hour later. 

Quiet corridors of players and football academicians' dormitory

However, that is not the case for these other kids who do not live in the dormitory. They prefer to remain extra hours on the training pitch to perfect their skills. The young Kezeh Ben is trying out his skills in taking penalties '' I admire the way (Cristiano) Ronaldo takes his penalties and I just want to be like him,'' he tells us. To even improve on his perfection, he has two goalkeepers facing him. Ben and his other mates are delighted to spend another hour on the pitch before hitting the road for their various homes looking forward to the next day. That is a typical day at Mount Cameroon FC.

Ben and team mates practise penalty-taking

In the meantime I take some time out to chat with the head coach of the academy, which I will bring to you on Wednesday. Tomorrow we will be travel out of the country to see how Cameroonians abroad performed in their various leagues. 

Don’t forget, we are in Tiko next week for The Monday Report with Tiko United, if it’s God’s will. 

Good day!!!!

Club File

Mount Cameroon FC of Buea 

Founded in 1997

Founding President: Calvin Foinding

Vice President: Kongso Chrystiantus

Head Coach: Mutia Jonathan

Team Manager: Atem Valentine

Located: Buea, SW region of Cameroon

Nickname: Lava Boys

Colours: Blue, White, Red

Honours: Cup of Cameroon winners in 2002

*  Editing by Franklin Sone Bayen