They have lorded it over Renaissance Ngoumou and Caïman Douala to emerge interpools’ best. The Public Works Department (PWD) social club alias Abakwa Boys received a standing ovation at the end of this year’s interpools tournament. As prime movers, they led their football campaign in the Douala pool with a chain of victories with Sahel of Maroua passing for the hard nut that could not be cracked.
Created in 1963, PWD Bamenda enjoyed 18 years of elite football before dropping into division two. The old timers have twice played the finals of the Cup of Cameroon. In 1967, they lost 1-0 to Canon of Yaounde. They literally had another football storm in 1979 when they fell 1-3 to ace rival, Dynamo of Douala. Their interpools opener provided them with the « Safety-valve » to revenge the 1979 defeat. Of course, they did.
At full time, it was 1-0 in favour of the Bamenda team. When Dynamo beat them in 1979, it was their second misfortune for the season. This same year, they moved a step backward into division two. They rose again in 1994 and later fell in 1998, making way for short-lived, Free Boys. The generation of Ngwana Festus, team captain, has taken over from the « P Ton-Ton » of yesteryear’s Ngoh Franklin. With a low-keyed supporting public, sub chief Issa Bongam will need to hire the services of perhaps a town crier to alert the fans and supporters that money is needed to manage a team. Just how that can be done, will largely determine the fate of the lone North West flagship in the premiership.
