Elite One: Victoria United threaten Boycott after laborious start

Victoria United was absent on game day five of the MTN Elite One championship, as the Limbe-based outfit failed to host Apejes of Mfou at the Centenary stadium.

Life in the top-tier was not going to be full of merry, and the club is just noticing that after four match days.

Opopo has played four games for one win and three defeats, but the team led by Nkwain Valentine have threatened to pull out of the championship.

Inability to settle

Game day one, where Victoria United defeated Fauve Azur in the Elite One opener now seems a long time ago. Two first half strikes from Richmond Nji meant absolutely pandemonium at a jam-packed Ngoa Ekelle stadium, as the Elite Two champions ran out 2-1 winners.

However, match day two followed with a narrow defeat against natural championship favorites, Cotonsport of Garoua.

A goal from Jorge Agada; his strike hit the inside of the bar and went in at the 12th minute. It was hotly contested by the Victoria United bench, and several penalty appeals denied.

Usually on the winning side of controversy, Victoria United cried foul and went on to air images, seeking validation from the general public.

The men of coach Guy Kamguia then prepped game day 3, a home game against Stade Renard of Melong.

Goals from Brice Sindjo and Emga led to a steal by Renard, in what is remembered as a David Pagou masterclass, which outshined Richmond Nji after the lad scored his third league goal.

Worth note was the roar after Sindjo’s late finish. But how on earth could there possibly be a near seismic reaction after a goal from an away side at the club’s base? Well, maybe the traveling fans out-numbered the home fans, or possibly, the fans had a clear idea of which team they fancied, especially after the split in the club, years back.

It didn’t get any better as Victoria United travelled to Bafoussam next. On their way was newly crowned Cameroon cup winners Fovu club.

Before the Fovu game, Victoria United supremo, Nkwain Valentine called for a presser, where it is alleged that he wanted to bury the hatchet, and certainly quit from participating in the premier division.

However, the multi-billionaire dribbled popular opinion, and rather called for the support of Elites, consoling his fans with words such as: “we were in this position in Elite Two and ended up champions…. We shall be the Elite One champions this year”.

Well, unfortunately, wishes are not horses. A painful 2-1 defeat against Fovu club of Baham was the exclamation point.

Victoria United led in the first half after a goal from Djacba, but two second half converted penalties from Ntebeu, turned the game on its head.

The first penalty after the ball was handled in the area, and the second, after a moment of madness from goalkeeper Andr, who made contact with Mbappe Muller off the ball.

The Victoria United bench filled in a technical protest on the command of its president, a process that halted the game for 7 minutes.

After the final whistle, Mr. Nkwain was absolutely livid. The business mogul complained to everyone ready to listen, including a couple of Journalists at the press stand, of how badly the game was officiated.

Fast forward to game day 5, the time bomb exploded.

Victoria United miss home game against Apejes of Mfou

“I am not in football to seek any gain or position from the federation or the government. I am in football for the love of the game and passion. To give back to the community as social cooperate responsibility, and a goal of empowering young Cameroonians. I am sorry if anybody thought otherwise. Goodbye.” Were the words of Nkwain Valentine, show-named “Bobdiddy,” which was first taking lightly as his usual antics.

As the game time approached, Victoria United attended the game’s technical meeting, led by sporting director, Defang.

Fans trooped in to watch the game and paid the required sum of a thousands or two to get the best seat in the house.

In a quite astonishing run of events from zero to a hundred, Victoria United was nowhere to be found. At first, some onlookers made subjective claims of the team delaying, given what a faith healer “juju man” must have told them.

However, 30 minutes past and there was no sight of any Victoria United player. Head of the referees appointment commission, Fokou kamga instructed the game’s officials to count the minutes from inside, rather than the traditional method of coming off the tunnel.

Well, it is the second game this campaign – which has been called off after the UMS against Avion Academy fixture.

Victoria United under the stewardship of Nkwain Valentine are not new to missing out of game fixtures. In fact, in 2020/21, the team, then coached by Joseph Mbock Maput, missed out on a couple of games after an upheaval by the fans, against president Nkwain Valentine, in an arm wrestling match won by the president.

Why decide to miss a home fixture

• Victoria United’s promotion to the top-flight raised a lot of eye brows and some individuals who felt hard done by, are back for their pound of flesh. A record number of red cards against opponents and penalties in their favor was the order of the day. In fact, Victoria United’s promotion is under investigations by CAF, due to alleged match fixing calls that were made, that saw infamous voicemails between Victoria United’s president, and FECAFOOTs president leaked.
• The cases of players who have changed identity have been brought out in all Opopo’s games from Emmanuel Alingang, now “Didier GH Emmanuel” to Paul Mbuh, now “Palai Mba”. A set of fans and stakeholders have followed the team stride to stride and unraveled the details to opponents willing to protest.

That on its own has made the club and its chair think twice.

The club feels there is an ongoing conspiracy especially with decisions given against them.

• Most importantly, of all the squabbles, sportgliz learnt that the relationship between Nkwain Valentine and his friend Samuel Eto’o, is strained.

From reports gotten at the game’s ground, Valentine wishes to stop football activities due to Samuel Eto’o’s unavailability.

“Bobdiddy called the mayor to hand over the documents, but the mayor refused”. Stated a stakeholder who wanted to stay ananimous.

What now?

Well, first off, Victoria United will lose 3 points to Apejes, as the text says, when the games are homologated. The team could further lose three points. In case of the same event of absences in two occasions, the team will be relegated to two leagues beneath (regional championship).

Really desperate times for the team that was basically in seven heavens in the Elite Two championship.