The students of the University of Buea, UB, and the Buea population all joined MTN Cameroon in celebrating the 17 medals and 4 personal trophies won by UB, at the just-ended University Games in Douala.

During the celebration, UB Registrar, Prof. Roland Ndip, gave some of the disciplines in which UB won medals and also congratulated the athletes and coaches for a job well done. “As compared to last year in Ngaoundere, there has been a tremendous improvement in every aspect.” The Registrar said.

According to him, the strength of UB this year at the Varsity Games is as a result of its involvement in various sports disciplines in civilian competitions in which UB performed greatly, thereby gaining so much experience.

Representing MTN Cameroon, SW District Manager, Caroline Bineng, congratulated the athletes and also handed a cheque of FCFA 1.000.000m to the Vice Chancellor.

On her part, the UB Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nalova Lyonga expressed satisfaction after the performances of the athletes in the just ended University Games. She reminded the athletes that they are all leaders and the University of Buea is relying on them to make it grow higher.

“You are all leaders, you are leading a team and so you are all leaders. I am hoping that the University of Buea can lean on its sports people to make it grow even higher.”

She also disclosed some financial supports made by some individuals congratulating the athletes for their bravery in Douala.

“I’m not the only one welcoming you here, The Dean of the Faculty of Arts came in and put FCFA 100.000 as his own support. Apart from MTN welcoming you here, the mayor of Buea, Patrick Ekema gave the sum of FCFA 500.000 as an individual, not the council.”

She ended by giving the head of the cow to the handball boys (Golden Gladiators) who won the gold medal as a symbolic gesture. She also told the athletes that they should not cry for “sports people do not cry."

UB in the Olympics category won: 2 gold medals: Judo girls and handball boys; 5 silver medals: football boys, basketball girls; 3 in table tennis. In bronze: Athletics 2, table tennis 2. Also, for the Paralympics: 1 silver in shot-put, 5 bronze: 2 in javelin, 2 in table tennis and 2 in tricycle.

UB also won individual trophies in handball boys: Zewed Akuro and Ngabour junior emerged as best player and highest goal scorer respectively. In football boys: Emile Yuh Ewane and Frank Abianda emerged as best player and highest goal scorer respectively in the University Games. Meanwhile, UB football boys’ team had the best defence conceding just a goal in seven games and the best attack was scoring 12 goals in seven matches.

In all, UB had 11 medals in Olympics and 6 in Paralympics making it a total of 17 medals thereby occupying the 9th position.

The occasion ended with the MTN gala night at the UB Open Amphitheatre