2020-2021 Season: PWD Hastens Preparations

#Sports

The "Abakwa boys" are upgrading their skills ahead of an international friendly against South Sudan today, October 7 in Yaounde.

PWD Bamenda, Cameroon's 2020 Elite One football champion is getting physically fit, testing the ability of their players and fine-tuning tactics ahead of international friendlies and the imminent resumption of the 2020/2021 football season. Head coach, David Pagou says PWD Bamenda resumed training in Bamenda early in September 2020.

The Abakwa Boys have just returned home from Equatorial Guinea where they played a friendly match against Futuro Kings FC, Equatorial Guinea champions in Malabo on September 27, 2020. PWD Bamenda played a 2-2 tie with Futuro Kings FC in the friendly.

Prior to their departure, the Bamenda historic club had a one-week training session in Limbe to upgrade their skills. In their friendly encounter against APEJES of Mfou on Saturday October 3, 2020 PWD lost 0-2. That was their first defeat in their friendly matches. PWD's scribe; Abongwa Fozo, details that the Abakwa boys will feature in another friendly today, October 7, 2020 at the Yaounde Omnisports Stadium against South Sudan's national team before a solidarity tournament expected to assemble PWD and five other Elite one and two squads.

These competitions will keep PWD busy ahead of National Elite One hurdles and the CAF Champions League. News about the team since emerging champions of the elite one competition is the fact that PWD has so far, retained 18 players from their previous signings and recruited five new players to enforce the squad.

Haschou Kerido from Industrial Kasmar FC of Guinea, Mohammed Aboubakar from Astres FC Douala, Kalamendji Mebengue Fumel, Central African international from Coton Sport, Ngondi Bomba Vincent from Eding Sports FC and Fangue Ongba Francois Xavier from Tonerre FC. Management is expected to enroll seven more players before the Elite One competition rumbles off.

The birth of PWD Bamenda in 1962 is traced to the defunct, Public Works Department in charge of road maintenance in the then, former West Cameroon. It was the habit of yesteryears for structures to create football clubs. The team later emerged to be credited as the people's team.

The past best performance of PWD at the national championship was in 2003 when the club attained the 3rd position and qualified for the CAF Confederations Cup. They progressed to perform the exploit of ousting Tout Puissant TP Mazembe in the Round of 16 before bowing out at the 8th finals against AS Douanes of Senegal.

The Abakwa Boys made two unsuccessful attempts at the national challenge cup finals. It was first in 1967 against Canon Yaounde and 12 years later in 1979 against Dynamo Douala. PWD Bamenda sounds off with some former players whose names speak in the nation's football map like Pius Ndiefi, Simo Augustine, Mathew Mbuta, Mokube, Nji Sunday, Ben Bola, Joe Agwa, Fabian Ekwe, Ngoh Franklin, Maranga etc.

Some of their past and present presidents include, Ni John Fru Ndi, Augustine Ozoemena, Vincent Ndumu Nji, Bongam Issaih, Abunde Pascal...