Patrick Benon and Karl Enow Ngatchu exchange MoUs
By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo & Charles Anik Nseme
Orange Cameroun, one of the telecommunication companies in Cameroon, and the Cameroon Football Academy, ANAFOOT, have renewed their commitment to developing youth football in Cameroon.
The commitment was taken on July 6 in Yaounde during a press conference. Patrick Benon, Director General of Orange Cameroun, signed on behalf of his institution, while Karl Enow Ngatchu represented ANAFOOT. Issa Hayatou, Board Chair of ANAFOOT, and the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Sports, Joseph Yerima, participated in the signing ceremony.
Speaking shortly after penning down the agreement, Patrick Benon said, it was a pleasure for them to renew their partnership with ANAFOOT and that this time, they are committed to doing more for ANAFOOT.
“We have chosen to invest in the youths because they are the future generation of footballers and we need to also train them to be promoters of protecting the environment,” he said.
To Enow Ngatchu, it was a welcome partnership proving that the light of NAFOOT has just begun to shine.
“This act joins the objectives of our institution,” he said. “On behalf of ANAFOOT, I want to thank Orange Cameroun for their support towards the youths in our institution.”
Orange Cameroun indicated that the telecommunication company will be a reinforcement of strategic points that will enable it to offer more scholarships to students in the institution and carry out more activities for the benefit of youths across the 10 regions of Cameroon.
Since August 2021, the two institutions have been partnering to better develop youth football. The partnership is geared towards sponsoring regional tournaments, detecting talents and accompanying youths in training.
In addition, the participation of youths in international tournaments, as well as scholarships, is important. Among the fruits of this collaboration, the U-13 of ANAFOOT participated in the 10-nation Pan-African tournament in Casablanca, Morocco, sponsored by Orange.
The first test contract between the two parties spans from August 2021 to March 2022. The partnership also saw the collection of ten tons of plastic waste in the ten regions.
