Chi Chinda insists he is still YOSA president
By Bryan Biwah
Amidst confusion surrounding the recent publication of a new ownership at the helm of Yong Sports Academy (YOSA), President Chi Chinda Chido Mitterrand has spoken out in an attempt to set the record straight.
In an exclusive interview with CNA on Monday night June 24, 2024, the man considered to have bene fired by the club, Mitterrand Chi Chinda, dismissed the notion that YOSA had been taken over by American company, the Mimba Empire, and stated that he is still the beleaguered team’s rightful president.
“I am the president of YOSA, only a general assembly can witness a change in executive. For now, we have not held one.” Mitterrand said.
Regarding YOSA’s recent announcement on social media of Silas and Emma Mimba as the new owners and majority shareholders of the team, President Mitterrand claimed that the news is fake since it doesn’t carry the team’s official letterhead.
He said, “No letterhead has been changed, reasons why we term that as fake. We have an official letterhead with our sponsors, and all it takes to make us a professional club.”
It remains a controversy because YOSA made the announcement on its official Facebook page which Mr Chi seems not to have access to
Chi Chinda Chido Mitterrand came into the team at the start of the 2023/2024 season and was later sidelined by health challenge in the course of the season “I was sick but never left the team, I was overseeing the executive management of YOSA from my base in Libreville, Gabon.”
President Mitterrand who was a former player for the team clarified that he joined the team because the Yong family was no longer willing to sponsor the team.
“Fans came calling me to take over and Yong’s family asked me to take over the team and change the name if I wish but I told them it was not necessary for the moment, that we could still keep the name and give them the honorable positions they are holding till today.”
YOSA has struggled for consistency in the past few seasons, but put up a scintillating performance in the just ended campaign, where they missed out of the title race only after suffering point deduction by the FA. The team will continue their quest for their first Elite one title when the new season kicks off on a yet to be announced date.
