Assorted displays from fan clubs and other dance groups showcased Cameroon’s unity in diversity.
The 2013 sports season that rounded off yesterday December 22 with the 54th final of the Football Cup of Cameroon was a veritable moment for the country’s citizens to manifest their attachment to one of the State values of unity in diversity. Through the dance groups that came out en masse to cheer the clubs and the human choreographic displays that ushered in hostilities, the country’s culture was at the fore.
Beyond the North West and Centre Regions that rallied behind their clubs, Yong Sports Academy and Canon respectively with dance groups, pre-match scintillating displays by thousands of school children all portrayed the culture of Cameroon from north to south and east to west.
The groups displayed in separate corners and converged at the middle of the pitch as if to show that the grass-field may be different from the Savanna and forest zones of the country but they all belong to one nation – Cameroon and under one leader – President Paul Biya who watched with admiration as the boys and girls displayed with dexterity.
From the pitch to the tribune, the displays were electrifying with fan clubs from the Universities of Yaounde 1 and II and that of Siantou giving an added touch. And when central referee, Cosmas Jérôme Mandeng Bakaly gave a kicker for the game, the tribunes vibrated to the rhythm of the players’ performances depending on which side who supported. Although the game was more or less lacklustre, the few individual or collective moves by either clubs met with thunderous applause from the jubilant crowd.
Although the decisive moments of the game, penalty shoot outs, were nerve-breaking, supporters remained faithful to their clubs in song and dance. Ecstasy enveloped Yong Sports Academy supporters when their darling club slotted in four penalties against two for Canon to bag home the converted trophy in what observers described as a cup of re-unification. The supporters, some of whom had come from North West Region joined others in the nation’s capital to sing victory songs even long after the presiding officer; President Paul Biya, had left the Mfandena football playground.
