How Football Said Farewell to Pa’a Njomo Kevin

As I approached the Molyko Omnisport Stadium on Friday, July 3, something felt different.

Maybe it was the morning drizzle that had left the ground damp and the skies heavy. Maybe it was the occasion itself. But I suspect it was the slight knock I suffered after missing a step near the stadium entrance, a harmless stumble that briefly blurred my vision and left me wondering whether I was in a dream. The stadium before me certainly did not look like the Molyko Stadium many knew in the early 2000s.

The venue, now boasting a modern, almost state-of-the-art appearance, was once a gladiatorial ground of South West football — a rugged arena where generations of footballers battled for glory while one voice narrated every minute of their triumphs and heartbreaks. That voice belonged to the late Pa’a Njomo Kevin.

Today, the stadium looks so transformed that popular entertainer – PAPA PROMO refers to it as the “Molyko Omnisport International Stadium.” He can perhaps be forgiven. After all, he was there when the venue was little more than a dusty battleground long before its present incarnation. And on this day, football had returned to honour one of its great storytellers.

In my native Ako subdivision, there is an old belief that when rain falls on the day of a burial or memorial, it signifies that the departed has been received by the ancestors. Whether that belief is truth or merely folklore passed through generations, I cannot say. What I do know is that the light showers that greeted Buea that morning seemed to bless everyone who gathered to pay their final respect to Pa’a Njomo Kevin.

As I emerged from my brief trance, two teams stood before me: a selection of former South West footballers and friends preparing to face a side composed of former Indomitable Lions.

It takes a person of extraordinary influence to bring together such a collection of football legends. Only Pa’a Njomo Kevin could have accomplished such a feat, even in death.

According to the South West Former Footballers Association, represented by Atabong Mathias, the match was intended to pay a last homage to the man whose voice had chronicled generations of football history.

Behind the scenes, former Cameroon international Essa Pius played a pivotal role in ensuring the event became a reality. He purchased kits, equipment and other materials required to stage the occasion.

“Pa’a Njomo Kevin promoted footballers of old and gave many of them visibility,” Essa Pius explained. “He deserved a grand send-off.”

The title “Pa’a” carries special significance in many African communities. It is perhaps best understood as the equivalent of “Sir” in England or “Monsieur” in France — a title of profound respect bestowed upon elders whose achievements have earned them lasting honour. And honour him they did.

Among those present were respected former footballers and personalities including: Essa Pius, Marcus Mokake, Mbah Jamah, Atem Valentine, Ashu Nchong Philippe, Mutia Jonathan, Mwambo Awolos, Agbo Hans, alongside numerous other figures from Cameroon’s football fraternity. Their presence alone testified to the enormous respect Pa’a Njomo commanded throughout his life.

The match itself ended in a 3-2 victory for the former Indomitable Lions. Nonetheless the scoreline mattered little. This was not a do-or-die encounter. Instead, the defining moment came with 15 minutes remaining when the referee theatrically produced a red card and symbolically handed it to Pa’a Njomo. The gesture drew applause and, for some, tears. It was football’s way of saying goodbye. For more than four decades, Pa’a Njomo Kevin was a defining voices of Cameroonian sports journalism. Through his work at CRTV and later as station manager at Mount Cameroon FM in Buea, he shaped the careers of young journalists while simultaneously documenting the evolution of football in Cameroon.

Alongside the late Zachary Nkwo, he helped define what many still regard as the golden era of football commentary in the country. Their voices transformed matches into stories and players into legends.

His influence extended beyond journalism. In 2017, FIFA appointed him to the FECAFOOT Normalisation Committee, entrusting him with helping restore governance to Cameroonian football during one of its most turbulent periods. The appointment reflected not only his expertise but also the credibility and respect he had earned throughout the sporting community.

Even in his later years, Pa’a Njomo remained committed to preserving Cameroon’s sporting memory. Through NjomoKevinTV and his popular “Story Time with Uncle Njomo” series, he became a living archive of the nation’s football history, sharing memories, anecdotes and lessons for future generations.

His death on May 9, 2026, at the Regional Hospital in Bafoussam marked the end of an era. When the final whistle blew at Molyko Omnisport Stadium on Friday, it became clear that some voices never truly disappear.

The football family then moved to the bereaved family’s residence, where a symbolic microphone was presented to Pa’a Njomo Kevin’s family — a  reminder of the tools through which he immortalized so many others.

After a lifetime spent narrating football stories, football itself had finally signalled that Pa’a Njomo Kevin’s own match was over. But legends, unlike football matches, never truly end.