Cricket has come to stay in Cameroon - Agbor Victor Nso, president Feca-Cricket

The Cricket Association launched its activities for the 2014 season recently. What were the high points of the launching?

Agbor Victor Nso, president Feca-Cricket

Thanks for the question. We launched our activities with the visit of Cricket without boundaries, CWB, to Cameroon. They were here for their second visit which took them a whole two weeks of activities geared towards developing cricket in Cameroon. The cricket season was also launched as part of activities to mark the Commonwealth week in Cameroon. We launched the activities with a match between the Commonwealth Cricket selection and the Cameroon Junior Cricket selection. You need to know that the Commonwealth selection comprised mostly volunteers from CWB and other citizens from Commonwealth countries resident in Cameroon notably Australians, Indians, British, Pakistanis etc. So the major high point of the launching was that gala match between the Cameroon Cricket selection and the Commonwealth selection.

You said CWB were here to execute a 2nd project with your Federation. What was this project about?

Basically the Cameroon Cricket Association is a long term partnership with CWB. The UK-based charity organization has a joint project with the Federation to develop Cricket in Cameroon. This project started during their first visit in 2012 when they visited schools and carried out training workshops and seminars with students and teachers of some schools in Cameroon, particularly in Yaounde and Buea. During this second visit they laid emphases on training of coaches in schools. They also organized Cricket Festivals for school children during which sensitization and awareness messages on HIV/AIDs were highlighted. I should say for short that this 2nd visit of CWB was a continuation of the 1st visit and the objective of the visit is basically to develop Cricket in Cameroon by training students to become players and teachers to become players and coaches. Some about 16 schools over 1500 students were touched throughout the 2-weeks of this 2nd visit. The schools were essentially in Yaounde, Obala and Buea. So you see that their aim is to lay a solid foundation for the game of Cricket in Cameroon that will enable the federation to carry on without much difficulty.

After these two visits what balance-sheet can you draw of your partnership with CWB?

It is too early to draw a balance sheet of our partnership with CWB. I said earlier that it is a long term partnership that we have. But I should say here and now that so far it has been very positive and it can only be positive. We have had huge quantities of Cricket equipment distributed to school children and teachers; the technical know-how transferred cannot be quantified, the empowerment of cricket players and coaches is simply wonderful especially as the outreach of the game in Cameroon is widening by the day. With the quality of players we now have, w are looking forward to building more solid national cricket teams at junior, ladies and men’s senior categories. So it can only be a very positive partnership with CWB.

From what you say, one can conclude that Cameroon Cricket is doing fairly well?

I should say yes. And I say so without mincing or wincing. Cricket is doing very fine in Cameroon! And we are putting in our best possible to see it grow, notwithstanding the obvious difficulties. I don’t need to belabor the fact that the resources at our disposal are very limited and how some people are only busy working to destroy all that you are struggling to build. But these aside I think Cricket is fairing well here.    

So when should we expect to see the indomitable lions of Cricket also taking part in International competitions?

Soon, very soon! We have already participated in a few competitions in 2011 and 2012. And I can assure you that in 2014 things are going to happen but I would not let the cat out of the bag for now. You will see for yourself very soon. And you can rest assured that there are serious projects in the pipeline for 2014.

You were recently co-opted into the National Olympic Committee. Was this in recognition of your achievements in the cricket federation?

I cannot say with exactitude if my success and achievements in cricket accounted for this appointment. But I think they influenced the decision in a way. You know you cannot be appointed to a position when the person appointing you does not have an idea of what you can deliver. You know Colonel Kalkaba Malboun is somebody of immeasurable clairvoyance and objectivity. He is somebody who believes in dynamism and hardwork. I want to believe that these are just some of the qualities he might have seen in me:- qualities of a young, dynamic and energetic sports leader. I should say that my appointment was based on merit.

Finally, what plans for the future of Cameroon Cricket?

We have just launched the 2014 season. But we have a series of training workshops that we have to do together with CWB. We shall dispatch coaches to the regions to continue the work done by CWB. We look forward to developing a cricket ground worth the name. I seize this opportunity to appeal to the government and other stake holders to come to our assistance in this light. I think it is high time the powers that be take Cricket seriously because Cricket has come to stay and can do our country proud like any other sporting discipline. So globally we have very lofty and ambitious plans for Cameroon Cricket.