Mount Cameroon race facts and figures part

Unsung heroes of the Mount Cameroon Race

By Simon Lyonga la Molombe

Today, we visit the memories of those who animated the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, came so close at times but never won the trophy. They were household names, great animators, respected in their communities but never did they win the race.

1. Konguem Paul – The `Bamileke Boy` was a great athlete and a good mountain racer. Being amongst the pioneer athletes of the race, he finished on the 2nd spot in the 1975 edition behind Amos Evambe, and was third in 1976. His most remarkable race was that of 1982 when he was promised a brand-new car by the Tiko based business magnate Paul `bamileke` Sinju, if he won. On the race day Konguem Paul was the first to get to the summit, but on his way down the organisers lost trace of the front runner. He eventually finished third and was heard telling people later, that at one point he was blinded mystically, and later found himself in a cocoyam farm. He found his way out but his expected triumphant arrival was greeted with less euphoria. Then, he understood that he had lost.

2. Lyonga Robert Ekema – the fans of this Bokwaongo boy called him Jango. His heavy built, slow stride and soft-spoken attitude contrasted much with the agility on the slopes of Mount Cameroon. He was constantly sited as a possible winner but he never did. He came 2nd in 1982, 2nd in 1984, 3rd in 1989, 3rd in 1992, a remarkable achievement.

3. Litute Walterson Maliva – His skills gave him a great-boy tag and his gentle smile could lure and melt even the most difficult heart. But when he moved into his mountain athlete outfit, the `jaguar` from Bokova Village was difficult to beat. He finished 3rd a couple of times, but in 1983, he was tipped favourite to hit silverware. He was at the top and was breaking every record and on the race day, he was first to the summit and on the descent, he was first through all the huts and first to enter the Buea Town Green stadium – the finish point. But just a few metres to the finish line calamity struck. Walterson lost control of himself and came crashing on the floor. He had a blackout. Many thought it was a slip and encouraged him to stand up, but he laid there and could not move even a hand. He remained in that state while his fans stood by helpless, unable to lend a hand since it was unlawful to do so. By the time he came out of the instant coma, another athlete Gobina Franz Monyonge had crossed the finish line. But, the mistake some officials of the race made was that they carried Walterson with his feet not touching the ground to the finish line where they helped him cross the line. As a result, the race organisers, Guinness, disqualified Walterson because he was helped to cross the finish line, which would have given him the 2nd spot. Guinness gave Walterson a prize for being the first to the summit. The final results were as follows: 1st Monyonge Gobina Franz, 2nd Bwanga and 3rd Robbie Likenye.

Walterson came 2nd in 1987, four minutes behind Timothy Lekunze.

4. The Bwangas. The elderly of the two, Bwanga wo Ngonja – a carpenter based in Wonya Lyonga – finished the race third on one occasion. His nephew Bwanga Andreas Molea code named Jesus by his fans was even stronger. Focused and talented, this well-built athlete is credited for running down the mountain like a charging bull, a feat difficult to many who prefer climbing. His best performance was in 1988, when he finished in the 2nd position behind Reginald Esuka, with Lyonga `jango` Robert closing the podium. Andreas was the lons standing local athlete in 1990, when he finished third in the first race that was run from the Molyko Stadium.

5. The Crane Brothers (Richard and Adrian) – they were cousins and had set a record of crossing the Himalayas mountain range, a distance of over 3200 kms in less than 100 days in 1983. They came to Cameroon as top favourites of the 1985 race. They were on every lip and lads saw them as `aliens. ` But they failed woefully finishing on the 33rd and 34th positions.

6. Marcianne Mukamurenzi – she was a Rwandan refugee whose only fault was that she came to the race in the years dominated by a visibly stronger and hungrier Sarah Liengu Etonge. She never went out of the winning trio during her three year stay on the race course. She went back to her country after the internal worries, leaving the stage without a victory clap

Amongst these heroes, and without knowing what has become of Miss Mukamurenzi, the rest have left this world except Litute walterson Maliva who today lives in his native Bokova village near Buea and Mola Bwanga who is in Wonya Lyonga. Despite this, they deserve to be in the hall of Fame of the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope.

By Simon Lyonga la Molombe