On April 20, 2016, the then President of the Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT, Tombi A Roko Sidiki accompanied by North West Governor Adolph Lele Afrique laid the foundation stone of what was described as the Bamenda Olympic stadium.
Seven years down the road, the foundation stone itself is nowhere to be found. Works have long been halted just months into the project and some materials still parked in the stadium are depreciating.
Seats, irons, and other materials are packed in the stadium and a section of it is now being used to rear animals.
The then Bamenda Municipal Stadium which used to record the highest attendance in the championship is now a shadow of itself.
North West Elite One clubs and some regional league clubs are ‘illegally’ (according to North West FECAFOOT President) using the facility for their training sessions.
Efforts from organizers of the Bamenda Solidarity Pre-Season Tournament to use the stadium met with stive resistance from some football authorities of the North West region. The organizers after receiving a notice from the FECAFOOT North West president visited the Bamenda City Mayor who happens to be the ‘landlord’ of the field to get authorization but it was rejected.
The playground was given a facelift, poles changed and two matches of the Bamenda Solidarity Pre-season tournament were played and it attracted thousands of football lovers.
Before the tournament, the stadium saw the visit of Maboang Kessack, Chargé De mission, who promised to take the worries to his national President. However, to date, nothing has been done about the field.
Just like the promises of the ring road, the construction of the Bamenda Olympic Stadium is based on the same promises.
Enter the Bamenda Proximity Stadium
The announcement of the construction of the Bamenda Proximity Stadium came as a sigh of relief to the football-loving population of Bamenda.
The initial dateline of December 31st, 2022, has come and gone. The wait is on. However, Mbigha Felix, FECAFOOT North West president had clarified the population on reasons for the delay of work.
From our findings, work has greatly improved and is moving on rapidly.
In a recent interview with CRTV Bamenda, the mayor of Bamenda 1 Council who doubled as FECAFOOT North West president disclosed that the work is currently at 70%.
What the Population doesn’t know about the Bamenda Proximity stadium
The said stadium is being constructed in Ntaafi, a quarter in Bamendakwe, Bamenda 1 subdivision.
The land being used is property of the Bamenda I community and the council.
The Bamenda Proximity Stadium is a project under the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development (PPRD) of the North West and South West regions.
During the recent visit of the steering committee chairman of the PPRD to Bamenda, the implementing partner UNDP, said the stadium project witnessed delays and work is now progressing smoothly.
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