New-look Molyko Stadium Records 1st Night-game failure

The 64th round Cameroon Cup match between Kumba Lakers and Oryx of Douala has been postponed to a later date after it ended prematurely.

Darkness and lack of lights forced the Cup tie to end on Saturday 22 July 2017, at the Molyko Omnisport Stadium. 

Despite poor visibility, kick-off had been delayed. The match initially slated 3 pm by the Cameroon Football Federation only started 2 hours 20 minutes late.

Stadium workers began installing nets pretty late to the dismay of the few spectators and visitors from the economic capital of Cameroon. At this time, there was still hope.

Having installed the nets, the workers who were led by the stadium director, Simon Njonje, started marking out the dimensions of the pitch. Here, much energy was wasted because drops of rain gradually washed out the white paints.

Kumba Lakers

Players who had been warming up angrily regained the dressing room, wondering what the outcome would be.

Lakers Captain, Fon Clovis said, “All is not well because we come from Kumba which is hot. We are beginning to feel cold after warming up to a late start here”.

Fon Clovis, Captain Kumba L.

“But we have to play because we prepared for it”, Fon added.

The match coordinator, Bissong Thomas Makia, said, “Kick-off has been delayed because we were granted permission to use the stadium pretty late”. 

Mr Bissong also said, “You know the stadium had been closed on firm instructions in anticipation of the CAF inspection team expected in the country in prelude to the 2019 AFCON”. 

Low-spirited, Kumba Lakers and Oryx FC of Douala finally took to the green turf at about 5.20 p.m. Unfortunately the second half was halted by the centre referee, Mr Tchoute A. because an unwanted nightfall of a stranger ruined players’ visibility. 

Both coaches: Lakers’ Atangana Flaubert and Oryx’s Alexandre Belibi had no fears about playing in the night. Accrding to the tacticians, their players were not new to the situation.

After a long wait for lights to be turned on, the referee called off the match with Oryx Douala leading by two goals to zero. 

The Chinese who was the only person to turn lights on for the game to continue, only arrived after players and officials had downed their tools. 

Lakers packing out of stadium

The Molyko Omnisport Stadium has a new face-lift with an expanded stand since the period that led to the 2016 Africa Women’s Cup. Nigeria who won the finals held their training sessions there in the day and in the night. 

Mr Makia says the match will be played on a later date. Both Kumba Lakers and Oryx Douala are participating in respective regional championships.