How PWD Bamenda Won Cup of Cameroon, Wipe 1979 Tears
By Akem Olives Nkwain
PWD Social Football Club of Bamenda has broken the impasse of not winning the Cup of Cameroon at its third playoff at the final. They lifted the cup after a thrilling encounter with Les Astres Football Club of Douala at the Amadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé.
The Abakwa Boys edged the Brazilian Boys of Bepanda 1-0, thanks to an early goal from Chem Herbert via an indirect kick at the edge of the 18-meter box.
Lifting the cup to the evening skies at the Amadou Ahidjo Stadium on March 13, 2022, has not only conferred on PWD Bamenda Champions but has wiped the tears shed when the squad failed to emerge as titleholders during their 1967 and 1979 appearance.
A win for the Abakwa boys has come to imprint the Northwest as a football-loving and making region, and to an extent, show the squad’s resilience rise to stardom despite all odds that could impede them.
Bamenda has no stadium and training facilities are limited. From time to time PWD and other teams from the region, making it great exploits in the country’s top-tier championship, train in pitches not worthy of the name. To make matters worse, the stalemate in the region which has crippled activities to its knees was yet another issue the Abakwa boys had to deal with en route to the final. Yet, they surmounted them all.
Consequently, fans say with the region’s ability to stay on top of making football even with the many odds, it is time a stadium be constructed in Bamenda. To them, the need has never been as this dire.
The 2021 cup of Cameroon was in its 60th edition and current title holder PWD Bamenda is the 25th team to lift the trophy.
One of the rallying forces that chaired the Abakwa boys to victory was thousands of fans that thronged the Amadou Ahidjo Stadium. Their presence en-mass at Mfandena only came to further cement the unwavering support they have shown the squad time in the recent past. A high point of that support is the acquisition of a 45-seater bus for the team.
According to PWD Bamenda, the support is timely. No doubt shortly after lifting the cup, in an official tweet on the squad’s Twitter Page, the team said “our supporters are the best. We are grateful for your usual support”.
