Two candidates retained for SW FECAFOOT presidency

From Mua Patrick Mughe in Buea

The race for the South West regional FECAFOOT top job has now been reduced to just two candidates. Barrister Agbor Nkongho Felix and incumbent president, Senator Mbella Moki Charles will lock horns in the forthcoming November 7 elections described by football pundits in the region as ‘the clash of the titans.’

The dice may have been cast following last October 27 declaration of the electoral college by the Normalization Committee. Twelve regional clubs have been retained to participate in the forthcoming election though uncertainty hangs over the participation of Botafogo FC of Buea.

Meanwhile, Little Foot FC of Tiko that was never retained is likely to bounce back. Both Mbella and Agbor Balla, we gathered, deposited their candidatures last Wednesday at the FECAFOOT regional office in Buea.

While Mbella undeniably has chances of retaining the position he has held for close to a decade, Agbor Balla on the other hand may spring surprises and create the unexpected as we are told he has the support of several club presidents. Mbella, we have been hinted would declare publicly for the elections in a press conference to take place in the days ahead meanwhile Agbor Balla had long made known his intensions of running for the race. 

Both candidates now have less than 8 days to burn the midnight candle and canvass for votes even though vote buying is highly suspected just as it happened in the last election where some club presidents were ‘caged’ in two star hotels in Buea and reportedly offered huge sums of money.

Nouck Protus who until now was one of Mbella’s challengers had his team (Little Foot)  disqualified on the grounds that they never took part  in the 2013 season of the regional championship.

However Botafogo that was equally not part of the league and is currently not taking part in the championship was included in the electoral college.

Tongues are wagging over the matter but Nouck Protus, we are informed has petitioned the Normalization Committee and may have his team reinstated in the list of eligible voters.

Barrister Agbor Balla in a similar move has petitioned against the inclusion of Botafogo FC as part of the electoral college. In a three page petition letter, copy which The Guardian Post stumbled on, the legal expert argued strongly that Botafogo did not participate in the South West regional championship of 2012/2013 and is currently not effectively participating in the 2014 championship, adding that the decision to include Botafogo of Buea amongst the clubs eligible to be part of the electoral college does not conform to the provisions of the text.

“Botafogo FC did not take part in the 2012/2013 championship. Please see exhibit ‘B’ containing communiqué Ref: No. 007/SW/FCF/2013 of 29th May 2013 in which the secretary general of the South West regional league of FECAFOOT issued a radio announcement of matches for the 7^th day of the 2012/2013 league for Saturday and Sunday; 1^st and 2^nd of June 2013. The communiqué did not contain Botafogo. In addition, on 15^th August 2013, the homologation and discipline committee of the South West regional FECAFOOT issued a communiqué of the official classification at the end of the championship of both pool ‘A’ and ‘B’. This official classification did not also contain Botafogo,” part of the petition dated October 29 reads.

Meantime, the clubs retained for the elections include: Africa Dream FC, Best Stars Academy, Continental FC, Victoria United, Buea United, Botafogo FC, EMSA Tiko, Mount Cameroon FC, CINYODEV Football Academy, Kumba Lakers, Prisons FC and Eyonde FC of Mbonge.