By Awambeng Fuh
Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
Cameroonian football is mourning the death of Madam Aline Mbesse, president of AS Fortuna, who passed away in Yaoundé after a prolonged illness. Her death comes in one of the most difficult periods in the history of the club she helped nurture, just months after the passing of her husband, Roger Noah, the man who masterminded the AS Fortuna project.
Roger Noah was the driving force behind the creation and development of AS Fortuna, building the club around a clear vision of identifying, developing and giving young footballers an opportunity to grow. His project eventually became an important pathway for several players who went on to make their mark in Cameroon and abroad.
Among the names associated with the Fortuna project are André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Leonel Ateba, Leonel Abate and Thierry Akono, among others. For these players and many more, AS Fortuna was not simply a football club but a platform where potential could be identified and transformed into professional careers.
Following Roger Noah’s death, Madam Aline Mbesse carried the responsibility of protecting and continuing the project they had built together. She became the face of the club and remained closely involved in its affairs, helping Fortuna navigate the challenges of elite football while maintaining its commitment to developing young players.
Her passing therefore represents another painful chapter for a club that has lost both of the people who were at the heart of its project. Roger Noah masterminded the vision; Aline Mbesse helped carry it forward. Their combined contribution has left an enduring mark on AS Fortuna and on the players who benefited from the opportunities the club provided.
The timing makes the loss even harder. AS Fortuna were relegated from the MTN Elite One championship this year, ending a top-flight stay that had lasted since their promotion in 2014. After more than a decade among Cameroon’s elite, the club now faces the challenge of rebuilding from the lower division while mourning the woman who helped steer it through much of that journey.
But Fortuna’s story cannot be measured only by its latest relegation. Its greatest achievement may well be the footballers it helped produce. From Zambo Anguissa to Ateba, Abate, Akono and others, the club has played a role in developing talent that has gone on to represent some of Cameroon’s biggest clubs and, in some cases, the national team.
Madam Aline Mbesse leaves behind a football legacy intertwined with that of her late husband. Together, Roger Noah and Aline Mbesse gave AS Fortuna an identity built around young talent and opportunity. As the club begins a new chapter, the memory of the couple behind the project will remain deeply woven into its history. May Madam Aline Mbesse rest in peace.
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