Dimako, the birth town of the First Lady of Cameroon, over the weekend was in a state of effervescence as inhabitants of the East Region, particularly the youths, gathered at the Bangda football field, in the heart of the town, to round off activities marking the 5th edition of the holiday event dubbed “Festi-Foot Paul Biya” which started on August 1, 2015.

Placed under the patronage of a daughter of the land: First Lady of Cameroon, Mrs Chantal Biya, the people of the Upper-Nyong Division in the East Region joined the Personnel Representative of the First Lady at the event, Linda Yang, who is the wife of the Prime Minister, a delegation of the Circle of Friends of Cameroon (CERAC) and other dignitaries to add pageantry to an event which was spiced with dancing and award of prizes and gifts.

As Linda Yang, Personnel Representative of the First Lady, made her way into the Bangda football field, at about midday on August 29, 2015, celebration started. In a choreographic manner, children in the locality entertained their special guests to the tune of several songs.

This paved the way for words of gratitude from the Mayor of Dimako, Janvier Mongui Sossomba and the President of the Technical Organising Committee of “Festi-Foot Paul Biya”, Felix Bekala. He expressed appreciation to the First Lady for the confidence she has placed on the youths of Dimako by sending her personal representative. He noted that unlike the last edition of Festi-Foot Paul Biya which took place in 2011, this year’s event was special in many ways.

This year, a village for youths throughout the one-month event was opened to enable youths display their know-how in artistic works and small business. Also, some 300 youths during the event were schooled on the use of ICTs tools. During the closing event, these youths were awarded gifts such as an Ipad, an android telephone, USB key, a computer and an attestation depending on their performance.

Special about this year’s sporting part of the event was that more sporting groups registered to participate as well as the introduction of traditional sporting activities. The President of the Technical Organising Committee of Festi-Foot said some 20 clubs registered (I6 male and four female clubs).

Furthermore, some 712 athletes also participated. It was revealed that all the athletes where dressed by the promoter of the Festi-Foot event, Oswald Baboke, who is also a native of the area. After the one-month football jamboree, the female football team Leopard Football Academy of Bertoua won the trophy as they beat “Petit Jésus” of Manchester football team of Dimako, three goals to nothing.

After an exciting penalty shoot-out the male football team Touugrelo FC won Baktala FC five goals to four and went home with the most coveted trophy of the day. While handing out the trophies, Linda Yang, on behalf of the First Lady, also handed out agricultural materials to rural women and Common Initiative Groups (CIGs) as well as didactic materials and school furniture to youths. Artistes such as Indira, Lab’l, Ama Pierrot and Mballe-Mballe added tempo to the much cherished event which will come-up again in four years.