Footballer Njie Clinton Gets Heroic Welcome In Buea

/By Macdonald Ayang Okumb/
     French Club side Olympique Lyonnais forward and Indomitable Lions’ hotshot, Clinton Njie Mua, was accorded a heroic and scintillating welcome as he came home to Buea, Tuesday 16 June 2015, on a public note for the first time since he shot to football prominence.

Njie Clinto, (photo Courtesy Google Images)

   Indescribable crowds of fans jumped and shouted, taxis and motor bikes horned ceaselessly as the heavily guarded convoy of the 22-year-old Small Soppo-born youngster, that had received him right at the Mungo Bridge, drove through the city of Buea to the Paramount Chief Endeley’s Palace in the Mokunda neighborhood of Buea, where the official programme kicked off.

   Clinton and entourage had before reaching Buea, made a stop at the Headquarters of the brewery Company, Les Brasseries Du Cameroon in the commercial capital Douala , from whose Football academy he got professional training before securing a signing abroad. The company’s presence was also very much felt at the Small Soppo Woteke ceremonial ground where Njie was officially received.

   From the Paramount Ruler’s Palace where Njie received Royal blessings, he and his entourage then drove down to Soppo Woteke, accompanied by a booming following. Not sooner had Njie, his fans and guests settled at the Woteke Community field than fellow Indomitable Lions’ player, Eyong Enoh, Showed up at the vicinity, taking most of his fans by surprise.

   Various speakers at the event who included, the Woteke Chief, a prominent Elite, Dr. Mafany Teke, South West FECAFOOT Administrative Secretary, Thomas Makia, the President of the Njie Clinton Fans’ Club that was the brain behind the event, plus others, all expressed exceeding gratitude to welcome Clinton back home for the first time since he made his debut for the senior national football team. They sustained that Njie has since been a source of pride for them and has not relented in his exploits of keeping not only the Buea Flag resplendent but that of entire Cameroon. They then advised him to maintain a positive attitude, be disciplined and hardworking so as to propel his very nascent soccer career to even greater heights.

   Before having his word at the event, Njie was briefly withdrawn from public view where he was dressed in the Traditional Regalia of the Bakweris. Shortly after, he came back amidst deafening applause. He then took the microphone to address his fans in what lasted not more than two minutes. He said he was elated and proud to be back. He thanked his fans, friends and relatives for the support given him to become what he is. He promised to continue to work hard.

   Eyong Enoh, who plays for Belgian Club Standard Liegge, briefly addressed the occasion as well. He thanked the fans for the unflinching support, while he urged the mostly youthful population that was at the ceremony to work hard so that they too can some day become the likes of Njie.

   Local artists like Tata Kingue, Andy Manyaka and Hanna Ewune all thrilled the occasion with spectacular displays.  Meanwhile at the tale end of the event, security officials, who included police officers, a few BIR soldiers as well as frightful-looking body-built boys  known in local parlance as ‘Bouncers’, all  struggled to contain a massive and incursive crowd that tried to pose for souvenir photographs with the football stars, or to have a handshake with them.

   Njie Clinton has a contract with his French club until 2019. He was first called up to the national team in September 2014 as part of efforts to rebrand the national team after the disastrous Brazil world cup. His call up immediate paid off as he scored on his debut in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. He thus immediately won the admiration of a majority of Cameroonian football fans. His mother Emilia Njuma was very much side by side her son through out Tuesday’s ceremony.