2023 National Interpools : Rich In Quality

The National Interpools that determines the two teams to progress to the second tier championship has always been a crucial moment each football season. But this year’s edition which ran from July 15-30, 2023 with Isle of Hope Sports Academy (ISOHSA) of Limbe emerging champions, had an extra touch depicted by the quality of games and the organisation. 
ISOHSA of Limbe and Bafmeng United from the South West and North West Regions respectively progressed to the second division after qualifying for the final. But the path to the top was not rosy.  They met stiff competition and had to be superior mentally to carry the day.
Going by the format of the competition, the best two teams in each group progress to the semi-finals where they cross-face each other to determine the finalists that will automatically progress to the second division. The 10 regional champions were thus divided into two pools of five and played each other in five playing days. At the end, ISOHSA of Limbe and Volcan of Noun finished first and second in Group A respectively while Bafmeng and Pouma FC were the best two teams in Group B respectively. The group phase was equally rich in goals with ISOHSA of Limbe topping the chart with nine goals. They followed in the same spirit in the semi-finals against Pouma FC to score two more goals and to the final to score an identical two against Bafmeng United. It should be said that the semi-finals stage of the competition was that with the highest stakes and evoked a lot of tension. The two games were “do or die” ones so the quartet had to bring in all they had. This, at the end, produced a lot of electricity and effervescence as well as gave fans the opportunity to watch qualit...