The Mount Cameroon Race of Hope suddenly became hopeless on February 25, 2017 leaving a sour taste in the mouths of many sports fans in Cameroon and giving room for disgruntle-ness and hopelessness among many Anglophones.
The race doesn’t just symbolizes unity among Cameroonians but has helped boost culture, tourism and sports for over four decades. So, it came as a huge surprise when this year’s edition fell flat of organization, anticipation and enthusiasm. Here are five factors which may have helped in killing the future of a race previously considered to raise hope within the country.
1.) Lack of attention/publicity
Even a month towards to the race, there was no awareness raised – via media – about the famous sports event. Speaking with some residents in the North West and South West Regions, most said they had no idea if the Mount Cameroon Race would hold, neither did they know when it will hold.
2.) Lack of Guinness’ sponsorship
For over a decade, the famous Mt. Cameroon Race has been funded by Guinness Cameroon but after they withdrew their sponsorship in 2015, the hopes of the race died a natural death. Insiders claim the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education took over sponsorship of the race but it has never been the same.
3.) Lack of peoples’ support
There’s no Mt. Cameroon race without the support of the indigenes from the South West Province as well as the entire nation and when the people shunned the race this year, it was bound to be catastrophic. According to Ocean City Radio’s sports reporter, Din Mongo, “I could estimate 450 – 500 people at the stadium this year with the athletes making 400 of the crowd.” This means an average number of 100 people showed up at a stadium estimated to contain above 2000 people.
4.) Lack of Internet
The absence of internet connection in both the South West and North West Provinces seriously damaged the image of the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope this year. The Ministry of Telecommunications deprived Cameroonians present for the race from making the famous event trend on all social media platforms at the appropriate time. Given the fact that social media and youths make anything popular these days, it was no surprise that the hashtage – #mtcameroonraceofhope – couldn’t trend on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and international media on and before February 25.
5.) Lack of general interest
Besides most Anglophones’ nonchalant behavior towards this year’s Mountain race in Buea due to the ongoing social unrest in the South West and North West Regions, the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education, Ministry of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Youths also didn’t seemed to have backed the race with their full support. In fact, the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Bidoung Mpatt never showed up for the race despite being in the country. So, if the Minister of Sports can’t come for a sports event as huge as the Mount Cameroon race, who will?
