Bamenda, and the North West Region in general, will soon welcome its first professional football field, a milestone in the development of sports infrastructure in the area.
The Bamenda Proximity Stadium, which is sponsored by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), is now in the advanced stages of construction, authorities have said.
It is located at Up Station, Bamenda I Subdivision.
During a recent visit to the infrastructure, the Secretary General of FECAFOOT for the North West Region, Ndi Tsembom Elvis, expressed satisfaction with the progress made on the stadium.
He said the project was vital for the region’s professional football clubs, which have long lacked a suitable venue for their matches.
“We are very, very impressed by what Innovante Construction Company has been able to do—completing the dressing rooms and other key facilities,” Ndi Tsembom said in an interview with a local TV station.
Ndi Tsembom expressed optimism that the stadium could significantly boost revenue for local clubs, especially given the strong community support seen during recent Mini Interpools tournaments.
“We were here about two months back and we could not expect that it would be this beautiful. So if we have an infrastructure like this and we can mobilize the same population that we have done over the last two seasons who are watching just the Mini Interpools, we will be able to raise enough revenue to support clubs going forward,” he added.
The Bamenda Proximity Stadium features a range of modern infrastructures, including a 100-meter embankment, modern dressing rooms, and restrooms.
The pitch itself has been prepared, with the installation of synthetic turf and goalposts and other facilities remaining before it is match-ready.
The grandstand, though constructed already, still requires finishing works and the installation of seats.
The completion of these elements has generated excitement among local football fans and officials alike.
A delegation of officials recently visited the construction site to assess the progress of the works.
Among them was the Mayor of Bamenda I, Mbigha Felix, who praised Innovante Construction Company for its efficiency in completing the first phase of the project.
“I’m very satisfied with the first phase reception by Innovante,” Mayor Mbigha Felix said.
“He may have come to the project late, but he is the first we are officially receiving. The work done so far is commendable. I want to take this opportunity to tell the fans of the North West Region that the field we have been eagerly awaiting is nearly finished. Our hope is that next season, our professional teams will be able to use this field for their matches.”
A LONG-AWAITED PROMISE
The Bamenda Proximity Stadium is part of a broader initiative promised by Samuel Eto’o, the President of FECAFOOT, when he took office in 2021.
Eto’o promised to construct 12 stadiums across the nation to improve football infrastructure.
The project, which was originally slated for completion in December 2022, has faced several delays, the causes of which have not been fully explained.
For years, professional football clubs in the North West Region have been forced to play on rough and inadequate pitches, despite the region being home to four clubs competing in Cameroon’s elite football championships.
