Courtesy: allafrica.com

Mfandena Lifts Centre Provincial Cup

Cameroon Tribune (Yaoundé)

September 4, 2003
Posted to the web September 4, 2003

Elizabeth Mosima

Five teams from the province participated in the yearly rendezvous.

It was an exciting weekend for adepts of indoor soccer. The 2003 edition of the Centre provincial cup finals for Futsal took place at the Yaounde Omnisports annexe stadium last weekend. Of the eight teams
expected, only five teams turned up for the yearly rendezvous. These include: National Mfandena FC, Association Sport et Vertu FC, Athletic Essos FC, Boka Tongolo FC, and North Makombe FC, all Yaounde based teams. Spectators watched with enthusiasm young Cameroonians display rare talents in the game.

A total of ten matches were played. The teams were divided into two pools. One pool of two teams and another pool of three teams. The tournament took the form of a triangular tournament. The tournament saw the domination of last year's champions, National Mfandena. In the final match played last Saturday, they outplayed ASV 4-2 in a hotly contested encounter that kept fans on their feet shouting and encouraging the players. The swift and energetic guys of Mfandena dominated the encounter with high football techniques that kept spectators spellbound. ASV, which is the second best team in the province, also fought back with high dribbling skills but could not stand the might of Mfandena. To qualify for the finals, both teams eliminated a series of teams from the sub divisions of the Centre Province.

According to the captain of Mfandena Futsal club, Epee Réné, Mfndena has been able to maintain their leadership this year due to hard work and the passion for Futsal. As for the coach of ASV Futsal club, Nangmo Richard, Mfandena merited the victory. He said that his players fell before Mfandena because they were lacking physically and psychologically his team is still a young team as compared to Mfandena. He however said they are not discouraged. "We will work hard and encouraged the players so that they can do better tomorrow," he added. National Mfandena was supposed to participate in a tournament in Spain a few months ago but they failed to travel due to problems in obtaining entry visas.

However, a Spanish delegation is expected in the country in the months ahead to participate in an indoor soccer tournament.