By Neba Jerome Ambe
The roar from the packed Mankaha Community Field on Saturday signalled more than the start of another football tournament. It marked the continued rise of the CiCi Championship from a small neighbourhood competition into one of Bafut's biggest grassroots sporting events, bringing together communities through football while championing peace and the fight against drug abuse.
Now in its sixth edition, the championship has assembled eight teams from across Bafut to compete for the coveted title and a FCFA one million cash prize. Organised under the theme "United by the Game," the tournament is expected to run throughout August, offering young people a platform for healthy competition and meaningful engagement during the school holidays.
The competition was founded in 2021 by Ndonwi Derick Shu in honour of his late relative, Asoh Concilia (1991–2021), fondly remembered as CiCi, who died in China. It also celebrates the legacy of her father, the late Pa Shu Petermuno (1926–2020), whose Zoological Snakes Research Centre earned recognition as the first facility of its kind in Central and West Africa and attracted researchers and tourists from within and beyond Cameroon.
What began with teams drawn exclusively from Njinteh Quarter has steadily expanded over the years. After extending to the wider Bujong Village Community in 2025, this year's edition has opened its doors to clubs from different parts of Bafut, reflecting the tournament's growing appeal and community support.
Competing for honours this year are Manjinikong FC, Mbebali FC, Nchum FC, Bawum FC, Mankaha FC, Njinteh FC, Nsoh FC and Njibujang FC.
The opening encounter produced an early upset as reigning champions Mbebali FC were convincingly beaten 4-1 by a clinical Manjinikong FC side. The result sent an early warning to the rest of the field that this year's race for the trophy promises to be fiercely contested.
While football remains the centrepiece of the championship, organisers have broadened its scope to address pressing social concerns affecting young people. This year's tournament places particular emphasis on combating drug abuse and the consumption of sachet whisky, with awareness messages integrated into the opening ceremony.
Tournament promoter Ndonwi Derick Shu personally led sensitisation activities around the venue and enforced a ban on the sale of drugs and sachet whisky within the competition grounds, describing sport as an effective vehicle for promoting responsible behaviour among young people.
Former Mayor of Bafut, Langsi Abel, praised the organisers for sustaining an initiative that continues to unite communities through sport. He urged players to embrace discipline, respect for opponents and fair play, reminding them that victory should never come at the expense of sportsmanship. After noticing the absence of first-aid equipment during the opening fixture, he donated funds to enable the participating teams acquire first-aid boxes to improve player welfare throughout the competition.
Retired medical doctor and Bafut elite, Dr. Shu Walters, reinforced the anti-drug campaign by cautioning young people against substance abuse and excessive alcohol consumption, particularly sachet whisky. He recommended that anti-drug messages be displayed throughout the tournament and proposed that teams carry awareness placards onto the pitch before every match to deepen public sensitisation.
Action resumes on Thursday, July 30, with Nchum FC facing Bawum FC at 1:00 p.m. before hosts Mankaha FC take on Njinteh FC in the day's second fixture at 3:00 p.m.
Six editions on, the CiCi Championship has become far more than a football tournament. It has evolved into a community institution where sport serves as a bridge for peace, youth empowerment and social responsibility, while preserving the memories of two individuals whose legacy continues to inspire the people of Bafut.
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