Colombe of Dja et Lobo

A few weeks from now, the 2024-2025 MTN Elite One Professional Football League will run to an end. For nearly a year, sixteen clubs crisscrossed the national territory to vie for the highly coveted elite title. In this tussle, Colombe of Dja et Lobo stood high in nearly all aspects. From the start of the championship, the performance of the club reminded many soccer lovers of the good old days of Canon, Tonnerre of Yaounde, Union of Douala, Racing of Bafoussam, PWD of Bamenda and Cotonsport of Garoua. After winning the Cameroon Cup trophy last year, the “Doves” from the South Region have this year outpaced seasoned rivals Cotonsport and Gazelle all from Garoua to secure the prestigious elite one title with more than three days of play still on schedule. Reasons behind these successes lie on their consistency in the elite championship. 
Created in 1953, the Sangmelima-based football club that is at the helm of the MTN Elite One professional league with more 10 points margin, is a well-structured soccer family. Despite fluctuating between the second and first division championship in the 80s and 90s, the club that has known several changes of name from Colombe Sportive of Sangmelima to Colombe of Dja et Lobo, has stood the test of time. From lack of equipment, finances to management wrangling, many diehard supporters, have for many years, been saddened by the performances of their darling club. After 23 years of absence, Colombe Sportive of Dja et Lobo grab her promotion ticket to the national elite one championship in 2017, won her first Cameroon Cup trophy in 2024 and are now sure to lift their first national elite one championship title this year. 
Today, thanks to the involvement of the elites and a competent management staff, chairman of the board of directors, the club has the necessary means to achieve its ambitions. Coach Richard Towa, a former Colombe player in the 1980s, has used his experience and solid training from the German coaching school to propel the team to higher heights. On the field of play, Captain Randy Ntuwe Kwalar holds the command baton with psychological motivation from the club’s veteran Jean Pierre Onana Mvogo, while Brice Sindjo and Boris Ekotto are top goal poachers of the team. Communication also played a key role in the success of the team thanks to an online round the clock social media platform. The club’s Facebook page and other platforms provide journalists and fans with current information on training, matches, live scores and other activities. The professional treatment of players with the regular payment of salaries, bonuses and the determination of the players are key factors that also contributed enormously to the club’s recent successes.
To emerge champion in a staggering championship where several clubs had difficulties to pay their players’ salaries and bonuses on time, provide medical care and equipment is something that needs to be applauded. The elites of the South Region have set the pace by making sure their club is in the limelight. Elites in other Regions need to emulate what is being done in the South as far as the promotion of soccer is concern. In a country where very few industries are less interested in the promotion of sports, community support from Regional elites can be a vital ingredient to enhance not only soccer, but social cohesion among the people. The elite football title which is a reward for the modernization of the management of the team and resilience, should therefore be an eye opener.
Except a miracle, the club in the days ahead will proudly savour its title success and ability to position itself as one of the best in the country. The celebrations should however not overshadow the great challenges ahead. Beyond the borders, they will have to give a good account of themselves. It will not be Colombe of Dja et Lobo, but Colombe of Cameroon. After the recent dismal performances of Cotonsport of Garoua, Bambou...