Yaoundé (National Times)-Secondary Education Minister, Dr Pauline Nalova Lyonga Egbe, has urged students taking part in the 2019 FENASCO A Games in Yaoundé to hail Biya, who according to her has given them the opportunity to showcase their sporting talents.
Speaking recently, the Minister said FENASCO A Games are an opportunity for youths to come together under one umbrella, thank the President for giving them such a platform as well as foster national unity in Cameroon.
This explains why her Ministry which is the main organiser of the Games chose as theme, “FENASCO Games, peace and national integration.”
Even though the Games are taking place in Yaoundé, hundreds of kilometres from the epicentre of the Anglophone war, authorities have reinforced security around the Games unlike in past editions. Armed soldiers have been posted at the playgrounds at the Presidential Guard Sporting Centre, the Lycée Leclerc as well as the Government Technical High School Yaoundé.
Some of these security officers are also keeping guards at the residential areas while each bus carrying athletes and officials of the Games is being escorted by armed soldiers as well.
While other Regions had organised Regional finals to select representatives for the national event, those of the North West and South West were randomly picked without any proper training and preparations because of insecurity.
With majority of the schools closed down while the few left are struggling for survival, most athletes have either taken to the bushes, engaged in other activities or travelled to far away towns like Douala, Yaoundé and Bafoussam for studies.
It should be noted that the National Federation for Schools and Sports Games popularly known by its French acronym as FENASCO was born in 1998 and since then it has been organising national games every year for Secondary School students under the banner of FENASCO A and Primary school children under the canopy of FENASCO B.
This year over 2,200 athletes representing the 10 Regions of Cameroon are taking part in the various discipline.
