CAMEROON INFOTREND

BAMENDA II COUNCIL INSTRUMENTALIZE SPORTS FOR COVID19, ANGLO CRISIS COMBAT

BY MILDREDE NDUM WUNG KUM

In a three day sporting jamboree, the Bamenda II Council under the patronage of Mayor Chenwi Peter epitomized the fight against coronavirus, a plea for return to normalcy amidst the Anglophone crisis as well as rejuvenated youths. This was accomplished in three sport disciplines; swimming, lawn tennis, and a marathon race. The activity spanned May 22 to 24 with the theme “Youths and Elites; uniting for a common vision and the fight against the COVID19”. The crowning of it all was at the Ayaba Hotel Bamenda with the award of prizes to champions in the various sporting activities.

Participants, Councillors in photo session

Champions received cash prizes, gold medals and trophies. Consolatory prizes were also given to those merely participating, who failed to attain a win. 

The overall winner of the day was Iris Menju Nso Andouchi, 14 year old girl. She won a trophy and two gold medals for competing in swimming, completing 25 meters of the Free Style category in 25 seconds and 38 seconds for the Breath Stuck category over a distance of 25 meters; far from the first and second runner ups who did the performance in slightly over sixty seconds.

“I trained so well and I’m so happy that I am the overall best” she told the press in breathless joy

Overall Champions, Bamenda II Outdoor Sports

 In an address to the press, Bamenda II Mayor gave the reason for organizing the event “Bamenda has been down for about four years now with security challenges and when the head of states put in place the law of Decentralisation to bring young people together we taught it wise that rather than start constructing schools, we should create an event that can bring us together to exchange, to use the vision of the head of states as echoed on the 19^th of May to intensify the fight against COVID19  and to also exchange and get a way forward. So with the youths, we exchanged ideas and came together as one. We must build this region.  We cannot wait for people from outside to come and build our region. We want peace, let us construct our vision” 

Youths taking part in the activities achieved recreation and learning while racing for winning"

Mayor, other spectators spellbound in viewing 

The marathon saw male and female youths competing in the junior and senior category. They ran from the Bamenda Commercial Avenue Grand stand to the Monument and Back to Ayaba Hotel.

The swimming animated spectators as people of all ages took part. The most captivating was Maya Kaithlin, 3 year old girl who swam successfully in a pool of  2.70 meters, 1.40 shallow deep. She was lifted up by the mayor in amazement and then awarded a cash prize. 

three year old mesmerizes spectators

Lawn Tennis was also captivating as it pitted professional sportsmen in the game bracing up for prizes.

A medical team from the Bamenda Regional Hospital gave lectures on safety COVID19 rules meanwhile the youths were also cautioned to be patriotic.

Speaking to Hope Lih Andouchi, trainer in swimming, he revealed the health benefits in swimming “Swimming is one of the best sports in the world  that works all the parts of your body. It opens your lungs, opens your muscles and does body massage. It’s a body therapy for the whole body. Those who have hypertension and difficulty in breathing their heart pumps when swimming and they function better”

The sporting event that brought together the youths and elites of the Bamenda two council is expected to inspire peace, unity and love for one another in the face of the ongoing health and political crisis affecting the Northwest region.

Participants were called to do all in their efforts to strictly respect the basic elementary hygiene rules and measures set out by the government to prevent the spread of the  COVID19 pandemic.