The congress, which took place at the Tiko Town Green Hall, was convened to raise funds to support the team in its history-making journey. Samba Boys, as the club is fondly called, seats comfortably at the pinnacle of the chart with 46 points, 10 points adrift runners up Cotonsport, with five playing days to the end the season.
If Tiko United finally emerges champion, it will go down in the annals of Cameroon football history, as the first club west of the Mungo to win the title since the inception of the National championship some five decades ago.
Charles Dikongue Eteki, President, Tiko United, appreciated the support the club has received so far. « If all of us did not work like one person, we would not have been here today, » he said.
« After 21 playing days, we have registered only one defeat; and we have conceded only one goal after the second round. Presently, we have the best attack and the best defence in the league. It is all thanks to those who have supported the club physically or financially, » the President said. A vivid financial record on how the club has been managed since last year was made public, with expenditures amounting to FCFA 75 million.
Enthusiastic supporters of the club, who nodded as the statistics were being read, were itchy to reduce the burden of their wallets in support of their darling club. The Chair of the occasion, Peter Tieh Ndeh, who is the Secretary General at the Southwest Governor’s Office, expressed gratitude to all those who have contributed to the success of the club. He invited them to continue in the same spirit.
During the event, the General Manager of the Cameroon Development Corporation, CDC, Henry Njalla Quan, who donated FCFA 2 million on behalf of the company, warned the team to be cautious. He cited the example of Prisons Social Club of Buea that was about to emerge champion in 1974 like Tiko United, but relented and was overtaken.
Njalla told the press that, the club should not make the same mistake that their sister club, Mount Cameroon FC of Buea, made by selling its players. He advised the management of Tiko United to do everything possible to maintain the players, who have exhibited a collective play style, to stay on, so that they could excel internationally next season. Responding to a question on the issue of selling players, the Eteki said, « We would do everything to make the players comfortable, but if somebody offers something better to them we cannot prevent them from going, but we always pray that they should stay. »
Louis Zome, the team’s captain, expressed delight with the turnout and guaranteed fans that, history is in the making. John Mayebi, Tiko United Head Coach, said, « We still have five matches to go and we are going to continue with the hard work to lead the chart. Credit also goes to the supporters for giving us this booster. »
Southwest FECAFOOT President, Charles Mbella Moki, expressed happiness at the successful congress and the support of the people. « I am a happy President because Tiko has brought honour to the Region. I am also grateful to the Regional Administration for their support. It is a turning point in the history of football in the Region. »
Louis Ategha Foy, the club’s highest scorer, with nine goals, told The Post that, he will do his best to win the championship and go back to Italy to continue his career. It should be noted that, Tiko United started in the 1960s with its initial name being C.D.C Tiko. However, during the late 70s and early 80s, CDC could no longer manage the team. So, the team was now managed by Tiko indigenes who later named it Tiko United.
By Innocent Mbunwe
