By Jude Abanseka
Joseph Tiben Wirba, winner 2010 edition Mt. Cameroon Race of Hope
Many people have described the 15th edition of Mount Cameroon Race of Hope as the worst in the race’s history despite the colossal FCFA 120 million disbursed to organise the race.This year’s budget witnessed a FCFA 20 million drop compared to last year’s. The race got off to an acrimonious start when the National Athletics Federation president, Jacques Sebastian Mbous, announced, just two weeks to the race, that the traditional race distance had been reduced to meet international standards.
For many South West and North West inhabitants, especially those in Fako Division, this was an expression of bad faith as the decision was taken without consulting local traditional and administrative authorities. Cameroon is on the threshold of decentralisation, but following the manner the decision was taken one could think the mountain is in Yaounde.
No wonder the Mayor of Buea, Charles Mbella Moki, dissociated himself from the organisation and the race, saying from the way things were being handled, if the organisers had the means they would have transferred the mountain from Buea to Yaounde. Reacting to the announcement modifying the distance, the Mayor suggested the race be either suspended or postponed until it could be properly organised. As the race is one of endurance, making it unique, he suggested the distance be maintained. He said the race was not there “--- to satisfy a handful of people, who are only interested in enriching themselves and pilfering State coffers.”
Like last year, an official’s wife prepared and brought along lunch from Yaounde, whereas Buea has many quality catering services. A huge delegation is reported to have come from Yaounde, all on Mission, of course at the tax payers’ expense. Most were lodged in the latest four star hotels in Buea.
On the race modification, the former National Athletics Federation President, Col. Kalkaba Malboum said; “I do not support the distance be reduced because I think we need to keep our originality. It is important because it is a great achievement for people to run up and down a mountain 4000metres high. Mt. Cameroon is unique in the world because it does not have snow at that level. I support the race be maintained as it has always been.” Commenting on organisation, Col. Kalkaba said while the quality of organisation is important, the most important thing is that the race survives and people believe in the event.
The South West Regional Athletics Federation President, Emmanuel Motombi Mbome said, “The problem we have is that the National bureau does not give the regional bureau the powers to organise the race. There are difficulties because we are marginalised. Thank God we did not wait for instructions from the federation to start preparing. That is why we got to this level. We even pre-financed the race because if it failed the disgrace would have been on the regional bureau.” Mr. Motombi concluded he was a happy president because that day’s race highlighted all the hurdles they raised before the race.
Seven times champion and Queen of the Mountain, Sarah Liengu Etonge said many things are changing for the worse. She proposed that organisers reinstate the race’s originality and improve on it, if possible.
Another false note for Sarah Etonge’s house
Meanwhile, one of the supposed 2010 edition highlights was to be the laying of the foundation stone of a home for the Queen of the Mountain, Sarah Etonge. Last year a similar point on the agenda was not respected after officials failed to show up at the designated site in Buea Town. This time the Mayor, Charles Mbella Moki, prevented some officials who turned up to lay the foundation stone, calling them “feather-weight personalities.”
Sarah Etonge was less disturbed than many expected, “--- because I never asked for it. It was a promise made to me. I wonder why the house has not been constructed as is the case already with other national heroes and heroines,” she said
The former Sports and Physical Education Minister is said to have been against the building of a home for the mountain heroine, a project the former Athletics Federation President, Ange Sama, proposed to immortalise the legendary Sarah Etonge.
The race’s pitfalls aside, Joseph Tiben Wirba from Kumbo Veteran Athletics Club, won the race. Simplice Ndungue of M’Muok Athletics Club was second and the third was Godlove Gabsibuin. For the ladies category, Yvonne Ngwanya of Kumbo Authentic Athletics Club was first for the second consecutive time. Her club member, Patience Timpep Gwyay was second and yet another club member, 21 year-old Lisette Ngalim, was third.
The youngest athlete, 13 year-old Mary Grace Wirba, a student of G.S.S Shisong, Bui Division, bagged a cash prize of FCFA 200,000. She was participating in the race for the third time. 700 athletes from 13 countries took part in this year’s race.
No wonder the Mayor of Buea, Charles Mbella Moki, dissociated himself from the organisation and the race, saying from the way things were being handled, if the organisers had the means they would have transferred the mountain from Buea to Yaounde. Reacting to the announcement modifying the distance, the Mayor suggested the race be either suspended or postponed until it could be properly organised. As the race is one of endurance, making it unique, he suggested the distance be maintained. He said the race was not there “--- to satisfy a handful of people, who are only interested in enriching themselves and pilfering State coffers.”
Like last year, an official’s wife prepared and brought along lunch from Yaounde, whereas Buea has many quality catering services. A huge delegation is reported to have come from Yaounde, all on Mission, of course at the tax payers’ expense. Most were lodged in the latest four star hotels in Buea.
On the race modification, the former National Athletics Federation President, Col. Kalkaba Malboum said; “I do not support the distance be reduced because I think we need to keep our originality. It is important because it is a great achievement for people to run up and down a mountain 4000metres high. Mt. Cameroon is unique in the world because it does not have snow at that level. I support the race be maintained as it has always been.” Commenting on organisation, Col. Kalkaba said while the quality of organisation is important, the most important thing is that the race survives and people believe in the event.
The South West Regional Athletics Federation President, Emmanuel Motombi Mbome said, “The problem we have is that the National bureau does not give the regional bureau the powers to organise the race. There are difficulties because we are marginalised. Thank God we did not wait for instructions from the federation to start preparing. That is why we got to this level. We even pre-financed the race because if it failed the disgrace would have been on the regional bureau.” Mr. Motombi concluded he was a happy president because that day’s race highlighted all the hurdles they raised before the race.
Seven times champion and Queen of the Mountain, Sarah Liengu Etonge said many things are changing for the worse. She proposed that organisers reinstate the race’s originality and improve on it, if possible.
Another false note for Sarah Etonge’s house
Meanwhile, one of the supposed 2010 edition highlights was to be the laying of the foundation stone of a home for the Queen of the Mountain, Sarah Etonge. Last year a similar point on the agenda was not respected after officials failed to show up at the designated site in Buea Town. This time the Mayor, Charles Mbella Moki, prevented some officials who turned up to lay the foundation stone, calling them “feather-weight personalities.”
Sarah Etonge was less disturbed than many expected, “--- because I never asked for it. It was a promise made to me. I wonder why the house has not been constructed as is the case already with other national heroes and heroines,” she said
The former Sports and Physical Education Minister is said to have been against the building of a home for the mountain heroine, a project the former Athletics Federation President, Ange Sama, proposed to immortalise the legendary Sarah Etonge.
The race’s pitfalls aside, Joseph Tiben Wirba from Kumbo Veteran Athletics Club, won the race. Simplice Ndungue of M’Muok Athletics Club was second and the third was Godlove Gabsibuin. For the ladies category, Yvonne Ngwanya of Kumbo Authentic Athletics Club was first for the second consecutive time. Her club member, Patience Timpep Gwyay was second and yet another club member, 21 year-old Lisette Ngalim, was third.
The youngest athlete, 13 year-old Mary Grace Wirba, a student of G.S.S Shisong, Bui Division, bagged a cash prize of FCFA 200,000. She was participating in the race for the third time. 700 athletes from 13 countries took part in this year’s race.
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