7-A-Side Football Revolution Takes Hold in South West Cameroon with top Leadership
A new and professional era for local football development is underway in the South West Region of Cameroon with the formal establishment of a structure for Seven-a-side football. This compact format of the game is poised for rapid expansion, backed by the appointment of a highly experienced leadership team dedicated to ensuring its competitive success and professional growth.
The Expertise Behind the Launch
The immediate success of this launch is guaranteed by the appointment of a highly professional team for the Cameroon Seven-aside Football Association (ACF7) in the Southwest Region, a group that brings a rare blend of high-level club management, pedagogical expertise, and administrative rigor.
At the very top, Karl Njomo Mokake, President of ISOHSA, sets the strategic standard. He is an administrative juggernaut who led ISOHSA to win the 2023 National Interpools and reach the semifinals of the 2024 Cameroon Cup, bringing a stellar record of success. Supporting him is Philemon Mbale, the Vice President, who is recognized as a succinct sports administrator. Mbale’s extensive experience includes working with several clubs in the South West and undertaking multiple travels around Africa for diverse football development programs, lending significant strategic depth.
Adding vital expertise in technical application and education is Madam Nketta Emma, the appointed Regional Director. A seasoned sports and physical education teacher at high-ranked schools, she brings pedagogical rigor, complemented by her competitive success in winning several Fecasco games. Furthermore, she possesses officiating experience as an assistant referee, having handled both regional and national matches.
The team’s administrative and technical backbone is equally strong. Sylvester Esowe, former General Secretary of the South West under Ndive Thomas whose reign is noted as a success, provides essential administrative oversight. The regulatory framework is solidified by Aloysius Awa, a former key member of the South West Fecafoot homologation and disciplinary Comission, ensuring fair and professional compliance. The leadership team is further strengthened by Giovanni Wanneh, who is a FIFA FSDC as communicator, suggesting an emphasis on international standards, and Oni Ladonnette, a distinguished presenter for STV and an award-winning journalist, who is crucial for media visibility.
Crucially, the structure ensures financial and competitive integrity with three individuals recognized as experts in the question of sports: Tabe Tabe (Head of Competition), His Royal Highness Embola Charles (Auditor), and Joakine Ashu (Second Auditor). Their collective knowledge will ensure competitions are organized efficiently and the association’s administration is managed with full expertise and transparency. This assembly of powerful, experienced figures provides a solid platform for the professional launch and sustained growth of 7-a-side football in the region.
Defining the 7-A-Side Game and its Rules
With the executive structure firmly established, the focus turns to the sport itself. Seven-a-side football (7v7) is a modified, small-sided version of the sport played with seven players per team, including a goalkeeper, contested on a smaller pitch—often about half the size of a standard field—using smaller goals. This structure naturally increases player engagement, promoting more touches on the ball, quicker transitions, and faster decision-making compared to the full 11-a-side game.
The variations in the 7-a-side rules create a distinct and fast-paced game. Unlike the traditional 11-a-side format, 7-a-side features significantly shorter matches and, crucially, usually suspends the Offside rule, encouraging more direct attacking play. Furthermore, while the standard game limits substitutions, 7-a-side commonly employs unlimited ‘rolling’ substitutions, allowing coaches to manage player fatigue and maintain high intensity throughout the match. A team consists of seven players, with unlimited substitutions being the norm. In terms of technical rules, standard caution and expulsion discipline apply, though many leagues restrict or ban slide tackles for safety reasons. Free kicks are generally direct, and opposing players must retreat a short minimum distance. This structure allows the sport to follow the growth model of Futsal, leveraging its low infrastructure requirements and affordability to become both a popular recreational activity and a valuable tool for developing technical skills.
