B'da FC Tech. Director to be buried Friday

The former Coach of Victoria United and Kumbo Strikers who died weeks ago in Bamenda will be laid to rest tomorrow Friday October 20, 2017, in Bafia.

According to the former Captain of Kumbo Strikers, Sampson Che, Kiam who died while acting as the Technical Director of Bamenda FC was amazingly incomparable.

Talking to Volcanic Sports, Mr Che said: “He was an exceptional coach.  I have played football for more than two decades, and I have not seen anyone I can compare with Kiam Jean. Throughout my 13-year career, I never saw a coach who went through a season without repeating a training session. Each of Kiam’s training sessions was unique and different. They were purpose driven and fitted any game or opponent”.

The former Captain, now founder and coach of St. Stephen Football Academy of Buea, also dwelled on the coaching expertise and the legacy the Late Kiam leaves behind.

“Kiam summarized the whole concept of coaching to me in two hours. The coaching courses I did for two years, I don’t think I gathered more than what Kiam told me in two hours…Cameroon has lost a football giant.”  

According to football consultant and archivist, Barrister Ashutantang Tanjong, the late Kiam was the first coach to lead an Anglophone team to Cameroon Cup victory. 

Mr Che revealed that Kiam Jean Baptist spent his entire coaching career in West Cameroon, and expressed the wish to be buried there upon his death. Sampson Che also recalled the times spent together with the Bafia man ahead of their 1-0 win over Unisport of Bafang, in the final of the Cameroon Cup played 17 years ago.

Kiam Jean Baptist, believed to have died in his early 60s, contributed massively to the country’s football. He groomed prominent players like Samuel Eto’o, and managed a good number of clubs namely: PWD Kumba, Victoria United, Njalla Quan, Kadji Sport Academy (from 1994 when it was called UCB), Camark Bamenda, Kumbo Strikers, Yong Sport Academy, Victoria Shooting Stars (alias Come No Go), Panthѐre of Ndé, Racing and Bamenda FC, where he was serving as technical director before his death.

It should be recalled that in the year 2001, shortly after winning the Cup of Cameroon with Kumbo Strikers, Coach Kiam Jean Baptist joined Victoria United, who had regained promotion into the elite 1 championship. 

The circumstances leading to his death in Bamenda were very unclear. But VS found out he was not on a sick bed prior to his demise.