Unisport lift cup
by So Sefeu Chiemba 24 December 2012, 14:48
Unisport of Bafang beat New Stars of Douala by 2 goals to zero in the 2012 final of the 53rd edition of the national football challenge cup.
The team from the Haut Nkam were the better of the two sides, they played a more resourceful game, their midfield line was present and industrious, and most of all their forwards had a better pace than the New Stars defence. It was therefore not surprising that the opened scores early in the game, at the 11 minute. Jean Parfait Tchoubia concluded a beautiful combination at the right flank and a banana drive from Hervé Ngane Ayo with a beautiful header.
New Stars didnot tremble after that goal but instead mounted pressure to cancel the deficit. Christian Eba Thobie their sharpshooter raided the Unisport zone at the 15th minute, but his powerful 30-metre bullet was palmed off target by the very vigilant goalkeeper Ndjomo Lionel.
With danger looming in the atmosphere Unisport changed strategies, proceeding with fast plays which yielded dividends at the 32nd minute when Raymong Fosouo benefited from a defence mix up to volley home the second goal.
They then resolved to playing more on the defensive, winning all air duels, while New Stars showed signs of fatigue and youthfulness. Unisport even finished the game with just ten players when Biloa valentin’s second yellow card earned him an expulsion at the 70th minute of the game. However, that failed to give New Stars an edge as Unisport held them abay for the rest of the game.
To note that New Stars played with less than fifty percent of their potentials, because club president Faustin Domkeu put aside the regulars who were still to sign a new contract with the team. He used the final as bargaining instrument with the players who also turned their back to the game. Old names like captain Bebey Kingue, sweeper Bessong a Rewou, midfielders Yem Yem Romeo, Bell Bell, Nsangue Nsia and Yimga Didier as well as his most prolific forward Epée Diboumje who qualified the team for the final were left out. The result was a diminished selection that produced a lacklustre game in Sunday’s final.
Unisport thereby win their cup of Cameroon trophy since creation in 1959, and therby win a place in next year’s CAF confederation cup competition.
