League one championship: YOSA recaptures fans
By Stephen TADAHA
Fans and sympathisers of Yong Sports Academy of Bamenda were overwhelmed on February 12 following the team’s victory over group B leaders Bamboutos FC by 2 goals to 1 at the Mbouda Arena Stadium thanks to a brace from team captain Tengemo Emmanuel.
The highly disputed grassfield derby counted for day 12 matches of the league one championship and the start of the return leg. A victory that comes to recapture the hundreds of thousands of fans who began losing confidence in the team following their recent counter performances.
“Before this game we were in the relegation zone. I told my guys that we are obliged to give our all so as to move out of the relegation zone. That is why they played with determination and fighting spirit as you saw. Two goals up against a tough opponent and group leaders is not given to all. We had to concentrate till the end of the game,” YOSA head coach Amunewa Franklin said.
After this victory, the team plans to take games in a similar way.
It is true we began the away leg poorly, I had to tell my boys to turn the page and begin this return leg with a different mentality because our objective is to reach the playoffs,” the coach added.
In their 10 games of the away leg, the team managed to grab only 9 points after recording just 2 wins, 3 draws and 5 defeats and were ranked 10th.
A victory that also comes to boost the moral of the players.
“I’m very happy for the three points of the day. We knew the away leg was very poor for us and it was really important for us to begin the return leg with a victory. I appreciate the efforts of the team. It is thanks to them that I performed this way, scoring two goals,” team captain and man of the match, Tengemo Emmanuel declared.
According to some fans of the club, the team is simply going through hard times especially with the relocation of their home games at the Mbouda Arena Stadium and they hope better days are coming.
” I’m really happy for this victory. We really needed this. They showed team spirit, they played collectively and at the end they won even though the game was very tough,” says Ndangoh Harry, a fan of the Yellow Submarines.
” I think the team will progress given that the boys have changed their playing style. They have improved. I will use this opportunity to call on other fans of YOSA to come back home. They should not be discouraged. They should come to the field for the team needs our support,” added another fan, Ndangoh Harry.
The Yellow Submarines of Bamenda are out of the relegation zone and are ranked 9th with 12 points. The team hopes the winning streak continues on match day 13 so as to stay in line with the season’s main objective which is to reach the playoffs.
Other matchday 12 results were as follows:
Stade Renard 1-2 UMS
Avion 1-0 Eding
DJIKO FC 1-2 Canon
Aigle 0-0 Colombe
Union 1-2 Astres
Gazelle 0-0 Dragon
Fauve Azure 1-1 YAFOOT
AS Fortuna 0-2 Fovu
