2019 buea wrestling final

2019 Traditional Wrestling Season Ends in Buea With Many Prizes For Winners And Other Participants

Moki S. Mokondo in Buea for Fako News Centre

A special edition of the Fako Zone A traditional wrestling competition has ended in Buea with Bokwai, Buea Town and Bova emerging best three villages respectively. The special edition that has been a crowd pulling event began in Buea on Sunday 14 May 2019 and ended on Sunday May 26, 2019, at the Buea Town Wrestling Field with hundreds of other special prizes presented to participants.

While the first three villages received cash prizes worth FCFA 50,000, 40,000 and 20,000 respectively, participants also received cash prizes based on individualclassifications. In the male category, the first three winners of the senior category went home with FCFA 10,000, 7,500 and 5,000 respectively while those of the junior and cadetclassifications each received FCFA 5,000, 3,000 and 2,000 respectively. Winners of the female category that also animated this year’s event received FCFA 5,000, 3,000 and 2,000 respectively. The award of prizes was based on the number of points scored throughout the tournament.

While each of the ten participating villages received a participation fee of FCFA 10,000 each, cash prizes were also awarded to the most disciplined, youngest, oldest, most courageous, and the athlete who visited the wrestling ring most.In addition to the cash prizes, the organisers considered each athlete a champion and so over 100 prizes in the form of buckets, bows, and loins were presented to athletes who scored at least a point during the competition. A special prize was also awarded to the Bokwai Fan Club made up of women who always animated the event especially when their athlete was in the ring.

The organisers have hailed this year’s sponsors for helping them revamp the Bakweri traditional wrestling that had suffered a major setback last season. The President, Chief Lyonga Andrew, stated that last season ended without the finals taking place. According to him, those who promised to sponsor the event turned their backs on them at the last minutes. However, he noted that the Kareen and Friends Hope Foundation and Fako News Centre gave the event a special touch with many prizes to almost all participants. This is very motivating as the participants will have something to remember about the event. He adde that the sponsors provided lodgistic throughout the event by providing chairs and canopies to accommodate the spectators.

The wrestling competion usually starts in the month of November every wrestling season and some identified villages are supposed to host the evennt for at least four weeks before they move to the next village. By the end of the season, they must have visited at least six villages before the final is orgaise in the month of May.

However, this was not the case this year as the event started late. When approached by the sponsors, Buea Town was identified amongst members to host this special event that ran for seven weeks. The initial plan was to organise the event for four weeks but the sponsors extended it to seven weeks due to popular demand. The hope is to see the event start earlier next year so that the steam is felt in other villages.

List of winners at individual levels

Category Rank Name Village Points scored

Senior

1st Njie Emmanuel Bova 16 points

2nd John Tilili Buea town 14 points

3rd MafanyMoka LikokoMembea 14 points

Cadet

1st Njumbe Stephen Bokwai 26 points

2nd Peter IkomeLyonga Bokwai 12 points

3rd Ngollo Martin Buea Town 12 points

Junior

1st Njie George Bokwai 28 points