Leonel Ateba Mbida Christian was the toast of the Ngoa Ekelle Stadium on Saturday afternoon, after the PWD of Bamenda striker was instrumental in the Abakwa Boys win against Renaissance.
Ateba set up Moluh Mohamed who won a penalty converted by fellow forward Junior George Tangko to earn a brilliant 1-0 win over MTN Elite One rivals Renaissance of Ngoumou.
The former Cotonsport forward who scored in the last game against the Cotonites broke the Renaissance defense by beating four players with less than five minutes left to play in the first segment. Midfielder Moluh Mohamed was on the receiving end of a well worked effort from Ateba, as the midfielder was fouled in the penalty box by defense man Zock.
The visitors scored from the resulting penalty through Tangko at the 42 minute but, undeterred, Ateba maintained his performance level in the second half.
Almost immediately after half-time, he stretched the Renaissance defense again but failed to slot it into the bottom corner of the net.
He multiplied such efforts all afternoon but didn’t get the second for PWD who finished the game with ten men after Abdel Mefira sent off Moluh Mohamed following a second bookable challenge.
The game finished on a 1-0 score and Ateba was voted the club’s Man of the Match by the MTN , with a massive percentage of the votes cast – significantly more than fellow nominees.
In his post-match interview with with kick442.com , the no.9 was naturally delighted with the win… “That’s the hardest we’ve had to work to get a result, but I think the position we’re in now we want these games. We know we need to improve, but game by game we’re just trying to improve.”
PWD only won two of nine games going into the contest, but stopped stubborn Renaissance FC despite being down to ten in part of the second segment.
Leonel Ateba Mbida Christian on the ball
Photo Credit: Serge Christian
“Since the start of the season, I have not seen a center forward perform like Leonel Ateba of PWD,” Anicet Koung, coach of Renaissance FC said after the game.
It could have been a more comfortable win, but poor finishing and good goalkeeping was PWD’s undoing again.
“Yeah, we had a lot of shots. I wouldn’t say clear-cut chances, but we had a lot of shots on goal, the keeper made a few good saves, but that’s football. Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don’t. Today they didn’t but we rounded it out and got the result,” Ateba concluded.
Ateba started all ten games in the first round of the championship. The ex Fortuna finisher scored two goals and was involved in the build up to three other goals – two of which were assists.
Leonel Ateba Mbida Christian
Photo Credit: Serge Christian
The win takes PWD’s points tally this season to ten points, two points off Stade Renard who are just above the relegation playoff places.
PWD will return to action on February 19 with top clash against familiar foes Colombe of Dja in Yaounde. That day Ateba will be crucial for the Abakwa Boys led by captain Berynyuy Derick.
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