The South West Region’s lone football club at the Elite One, Victoria United (aka OPOPO) seeks to bounce back from its turbulent start at the tournament. The club faces Apajes tomorrow at the Limbe Centenary Stadium, a game that will kick start match day five.
The MTN Elite One Championship enters its fifth day of play this Saturday, but match day four has been turbulent for Victoria United.
Popularly called OPOPO, the Limbe-based club has not recorded any victory since it opened the championship on September 30 with a 2-1 win over Fauve Azur.
On Wednesday, the club suffered a 2-1 defeat to last season’s Cameroon Cup winners, Fovu of Baham. This marked OPOPO’s third consecutive defeat.
The club previously conceded two goals to one from Stade Renard on home soil on October 14. This was after it lost 1-0 to Coton Sport on match day two.
Elite One Trophy Still In Sight
After OPOPO got its second defeat on match day three from Fovu FC, the club’s president, Nkwain Valentine, said he remained hopeful in their goal of lifting the Elite One trophy this year.
“Losing and winning are part of the game,” he said, “but the most important thing is that we know how to play the game.”
He made the statement at a press briefing in Limbe on October 16. This was two days after their 2-1 loss to Fovu.
“We want to assure the supporters that there is nothing to be afraid of. Victoria United football club will be the 2023/2024 Cameroon Elite One champion,” added Nkwain.
Victoria United is the best-performing club in the South West Region.
It emerged from the regional league last year to become the only club from the South West that is playing at Elite One.
Its early days of this season have not, however, been promising.
Nkwain Valentine said he was not surprised at the team’s performance.
He was confident that they would bounce back from the failures as they had done in the past.
At the MTN Elite Two Championship last year, Victoria United emerged as champions despite a turbulent start.
The club conceded four defeats in a row but ended up recording the most wins (13/23 games).
Match Day Five: A ‘Must Win’
Tomorrow, October 21, the club will play its second home game at the Limbe Centenary Stadium against Apajes of Mfou.
Fans say it’s a must-win game for the club if it has to revive hopes of winning the championship.
“Please guys we are counting on you this time. Prove to envy and jealous people that we really merit Elite One,” said one of the club’s top fans, Claris Angah.
Another fan, Nfor Eyong, also commented: “Guys, this is our match to win; no panicking, please. Together we stand, divided we fall. One spirit OPOPO.”
