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Football: Chelsea agree terms with Pochettino

14, May 2023

Football: Chelsea agree terms with Pochettino 0

Chelsea are on the verge of hiring Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager after agreeing terms with the former Paris Saint Germain boss, according to reports on Sunday.

Pochettino is reportedly set to join Chelsea at the end of this season as he returns to the Premier League four years after his sacking by Tottenham.

The Argentine will replace interim manager Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly bids to get his troubled club back on track after a dismal season.

Pochettino will be Chelsea’s sixth permanent manager in five years after Boehly sacked Thomas Tuchel in September and then axed Graham Potter in April.

Pochettino, who has also managed in the Premier League with Southampton, left Paris Saint Germain in July 2022 and was replaced by Christophe Galtier.

Pochettino guided Tottenham to the Champions League final in 2019 when they finished as runners-up to Liverpool.

He also led the north Londoners a second place finish in the Premier League in 2017 and the League Cup final in 2015, missing out on the silverware to Chelsea on both occasions.

Despite failing to end a Tottenham trophy drought that stretches back to 2008, Pochettino was widely admired by his players.

Tottenham striker Harry Kane recently bemoaned the change in the club’s culture since the Argentine’s exit.

Following his Tottenham stint, the 51-year-old took over at French side Paris Saint Germain in January 2021.

They finished second in Ligue 1 in 2022, winning the Coupe de France and the Trophee des Champions, which were the first trophies of Pochettino’s managerial career.

Pochettino led PSG to the French title in his second season but departed after failing to make an impact in the Champions League, with a last 16 capitulation against Real Madrid especially damaging to his reign.

Considered for the Manchester United job before Erik ten Hag’s appointment last year, Pochettino will arrive in west London to find a club in crisis.

Chelsea, who last won the title in 2017, are currently 11th in the Premier League.

They have won just one of their past 11 games and look set to miss out on European competition next season.

With three games left, the Blues are in danger of finishing in the bottom half of the Premier League for the first time since 1996.

Boehly’s spending spree on over £550 million ($685 million) of new signings since buying the club from Roman Abramovich last year has failed to have the desired effect.

Chelsea crashed out of both domestic cups and lost limply against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, with Boehly reportedly telling the players their season was “embarrassing” during a dressing room speech immediately after a home defeat against Brighton.

Lampard lost the first six matches of his second spell as Chelsea boss before a victory against Bournemouth and then a draw with lowly Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Source: AFP

Football: Martial puts Manchester United’s top four bid back on track

13, May 2023

Football: Martial puts Manchester United’s top four bid back on track 0

Anthony Martial put Manchester United’s bid for a top four finish back on track as the French forward ended his goal drought in Saturday’s crucial 2-0 victory against Wolves.

Martial had gone eight games without scoring before he netted in the first half at Old Trafford.

United’s first win in three matches was wrapped up by Alejandro Garnacho’s stoppage-time goal.

After successive defeats at Brighton and West Ham threatened to ruin their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League, Erik ten Hag’s side restored order at Old Trafford.

Fourth-placed United, who sit behind Newcastle on goal difference, moved four points clear of Liverpool, who are fifth and play at struggling Leicester on Monday.

After that fixture, United will still have three matches left while Liverpool will have only two to play, leaving Ten Hag’s men in control of their top four destiny.

Former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was back at Old Trafford for the first time since being sacked in November 2021.

Solskjaer was all smiles as he took photos with fans before kick-off, but even the Norwegian’s most ardent fan had to acknowledge the impressive progress made under Ten Hag this season underlined the failings of his own troubled reign.

Ten Hag made three changes as Marcus Rashford was sidelined by a leg injury, while Wout Weghorst and Tyrell Malacia dropped to the bench, with Martial, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane coming in.

United had scored only six times in their previous nine games, offering Liverpool renewed hope after six successive wins for Jurgen Klopp’s team.

Wolves went close to snatching a shock lead when Craig Dawson fired just wide after Pedro Neto pulled the ball back to the defender inside the United area.

But Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick forced a save from Wolves’ rookie keeper Daniel Bentley as United’s pressure gradually mounted.

The chances kept coming for United as Christian Eriksen whistled his strike just wide from long-range before Antony headed wastefully over from six yards.

Martial finally delivered in the 32nd minute as the French striker scored only his second league goal in 2023.

Fernandes’ pass triggered Antony’s incisive raid and when Bentley rashly came off his line the Brazilian unselfishly cut back to Martial, who finished with ease.

Martial could have doubled United’s lead before half-time but he shot straight at Bentley from Antony’s pass.

Wolves missed a good chance when Max Kilman headed a corner down to Hwang Hee-chan and the substitute screwed his shot wide from an acute angle.

Fernandes was unable to beat Bentley from close-range and the Wolves keeper made another good save to keep out Sancho’s effort.

Weghorst, still waiting for his first Premier League goal for United, headed over from six yards.

With seconds left, Garnacho sprinted onto Fernandes’ pass and finished with aplomb.

Source: AFP

Yaoundé: Road users express concerns following Touristique Express’ suspension

13, May 2023

Yaoundé: Road users express concerns following Touristique Express’ suspension 0

Several users of the Maroua-Yaoundé transport line expressed concerns following the decision announced by Transport Minister Jean Ernest Ngallé Bibéhé to suspend the operator Touristique Express.

As a reminder, the company was suspended after being involved in a fatal accident that killed 14 people and injured several others on May 9 on the road between Garoua-Boulaï and Ngaoundéré. Physical damage, material losses, and loss of life were also reported.

Users fear that Danay Express, Touristique’s only competitor, will not be able to handle the flow of passengers on its own and will soon be overwhelmed. “This measure will put great pressure on Danay. And that may cause other accidents. I don’t know if Danay has enough buses to carry everyone,” said Arthur Akoa, a civil servant in Maroua. Journalist and media owner Guibai Gatama said the suspension decision could leave room for “inexperienced occasional carriers and could cause even more damage to travelers.”

For now, the measure taken by Jean Ernest Ngallé Bibéhè on May 11 is in effect. It should last one month but may be renewed. Minister Ngallé Bibéhè also prohibits the rental or transfer of the company’s rolling stock. The license of the driver involved in the accident will also be suspended for two years.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Biya regime asks for hundreds of millions of dollars for people in need

13, May 2023

Biya regime asks for hundreds of millions of dollars for people in need 0

The Cameroonian government is appealing for hundreds of millions of dollars to help vulnerable groups such as children, people with disability, and women who are the most affected by conflict.

The government, along with humanitarian agencies, says they must raise $407 million to meet the needs of the approximately 3 million most vulnerable people in the country.

Overall 4.7 million people in the country could be classed as “vulnerable”, it was revealed. That’s one in six people who need assistance. More than three quarters of them are women and children.

About 3 million people are facing acute food insecurity, and more than 2 million people are internally displaced, refugees, or returnees.

The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan drawn up by the government and International humanitarian agencies says they need money for protection services and life-saving assistance for people suffering the effects of violence, natural disasters, climate shocks, and disease outbreaks.

The announcement did not specify who they would ask for this money, but the request was aimed at “the international community”.

Sufficient funding

Matthias Naab, Humanitarian Coordination in Cameroon during his presentation on Thursday urged the international community to provide “early, flexible and sufficient funding”.

“It will support livelihoods and resilience, to ensure that affected women, men, girls and boys can meet their basic needs. Priority will be given to interventions for those in greatest need, including internally displaced persons, returnees, refugees, and host communities who continue to generously open their homes to those in need,” he said.

Cameroon is dealing with terrorist attacks in the Far North region, where the civilian population continues to be subject to armed attacks, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), kidnappings, including of children, looting, and destruction of property and infrastructure, by Islamist militants.

Seven years after separatists embarked on a mission to independence in the Northwest and Southwest, there have been reports of human rights violations that have led to important population displacements.

Insecurity in the neighboring Central African Republic has seen the influx of over 340,009 refugees in the East, Adamawa, and Mort regions.

Over 224 humanitarian organizations are working with the United Nations and government to boost response in Cameroon.

Source: Humanglemedia.com

Drug Smuggling: Biggest-ever Colombian narco sub intercepted

12, May 2023

Drug Smuggling: Biggest-ever Colombian narco sub intercepted 0

The largest Colombian “narco sub” ever recorded — some 30 meters (100 feet) long and three meters wide — has been decommissioned in the Pacific, with three tons of cocaine found on board, the country’s navy reported Friday.

The semi-submersible vessel was intercepted Tuesday on its way to Central America, one of the most common routes for drug smuggling to the United States, the world’s largest consumer of Colombian cocaine.

The detained crew — aged 45, 54 and 63 — are all Colombians and claimed to have been “forced by a drug trafficking organization” to take the sub to Central America, the navy said in a statement.

In three decades, the Colombian navy has seized 228 such drug-laden semi-submersibles, which are never fully underwater but used by traffickers to elude detection by coast guard and other authorities.

Some were bound for the United States, while others were intercepted in the Atlantic, headed for Europe.

This was the largest Colombian narco sub decommissioned since records began in 1993.

The seizure represented a blow of some $103 million to the drug trade, the navy said.

The law in Colombia, the world’s largest cocaine producer, punishes the use, construction, marketing, possession or transportation of a semi-submersible by up to 14 years in prison.

In 2021, cultivation of the coca plant — from which cocaine is extracted — stretched over 204,000 hectares (505,000 acres), according to the United Nations.

This was the highest figure since monitoring began 21 years earlier, and went hand-in-hand with a rise in cocaine production from 1,010 tons in 2020 to 1,400 tons.

Source: AFP

Letters: Manyu Diaspora must learn from the Asian Diaspora!

12, May 2023

Letters: Manyu Diaspora must learn from the Asian Diaspora! 0

Many people have been wondering why the Asian Diaspora has made giant strides forward in Europe and North America, but the answer is obvious. Asians know how to pool their resources in order to achieve their goal. Their humility is a massive asset which has enabled them to reduce their dependence on Caucasians.

In many Western countries, Asians such as Indians and Chinese have actually established parallel economies which operate based on the rules of their new environment.

This is unfortunately not true with the African Diaspora which is struggling and has not yet figured out that unity is strength.

Most Sub-Saharan Africans come from environments wherein the solutions to their problems have been designed by nature but none of them is willing to learn the lessons of nature.

Sub-Saharan Africa is both savannah and forest and there is a lot to learn from this environment. Locust attack in a group! Lions hunt together to reduce the chances of their preys surviving their attack.

A pride of lions is bad news to any animal.  Hynas attack as a herd and they hardly kill each other though they may fight over their catch.

Crocodiles move in hordes, making it possible for them to tear their preys apart with relative ease. Even ants know that to overcome their challenge and guarantee the safety of their queen, they must work together.

In Cameroon, the people of the grass field understand that there is power in numbers. It is no surprise that the Bamilekes are those running the country’s economy and their northwest neighbors are dogging their footsteps when it comes to collaboration.

North westerners know that you will gain more through collaboration than through confrontation. They also know that conflict is as old as man, but their humility dictates to them that by addressing their differences, they could attain their common objective with relative ease.

But not every Cameroonian ethnic group sees life the same way. The people of Manyu have, from time immemorial, held that divided we stand and they are not going to change their ways anytime soon. They all are the best educated and their universities are always the best. Unity is not strength in Manyu.

Put ten Manyu people in one room and let them know that you have CFAF 50 million for any project of their choice in Manyu Division and that they should come up with a project plan which could create thousands of direct and indirect jobs in Manyu Division.

Strangely, if you come back after 20 minutes, they would not be talking to each other because they would have exhausted their stock of insults on each other. The objective was for them to talk to each other so that they can bring about development in their region but with Manyu people, development efforts are always counter-productive as they will never agree even on the smallest things of life.

After many decades abroad, the Manyu Diaspora remains the most fragmented Diaspora. Collective effort is not their forte and each of them always wants to be a hero. Just living abroad is a huge achievement to people of Manyu descent.

Strangely, they all always say their region has been neglected. Who else should be thinking of Manyu Division if the people who come there cannot work together to achieve the benefits of unity?

Working with other people requires humility and working together builds confidence and character. It is rare to see two Manyu people really getting involved in a partnership. Their bloated ego will always stand in the way of business and they will, at best, become enemies because of the business, with each of them accusing the other of engineering the failure of their business.

They are yet to understand that classroom knowledge has very little to do with success in life and business.

Business and life require a vision and not certificates. Formal education gives you information, life gives you wisdom. If you know how to use both, you will be the most accomplished person in life. The Manyu Diaspora must learn from the Asian Diaspora.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Yaoundé: Commonwealth and ITFC partner to empower women business owners

12, May 2023

Yaoundé: Commonwealth and ITFC partner to empower women business owners 0

Thirty-four women from across Cameroon have benefitted from a three-day digital business bootcamp designed to equip them with the skills necessary to scale up their businesses globally.

The Commonwealth Secretariat partnered with the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) on the bootcamp, which ran from 2 May to 4 May 2023 in Yaoundé, focusing on upskilling women business owners in Cameroon.

Research reveals that women entrepreneurs are at a disadvantage in accessing digital infrastructure and participating in e-commerce platforms. The bootcamp aimed to help address that deficit by providing skills and resources in entrepreneurship, financial literacy and digital know-how.

One of the entrepreneurs attending the bootcamp, Buma Emeline from the Fonds Régional Pour la Promotion de Santé du Centre – an organisation working in Cameroon to ensure patients are offered quality medication and health facilities – said the workshop would help her better market her products and medical advice, and learn how to engage more partners to reach more citizens.

Opening the bootcamp, Secretary General of Cameroon’s Ministry of Trade, Brusil Miranda Metou, said:

“To better leverage the benefit from e-commerce, you need to master its contours… The training that you will receive over the next three days will enable you to diversify your activities and facilitate your inclusion in the national, regional and international value chains.”

Ms Metou thanked the Commonwealth Secretariat and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) for organising the bootcamp, which, she said, would strengthen the role of women in the e-commerce process and development of Cameroon.

The bootcamp was part of a wider initiative of the Commonwealth Secretariat and the ITFC, which has been supporting the Government of Cameroon with technical assistance and capacity building on trade opportunities.

Under the initiative, the Secretariat and ITFC facilitated the development of an e-commerce strategy for Cameroon, produced a training manual on leveraging e-commerce capabilities and hosted two training sessions for women entrepreneurs in Cameroon. With this bootcamp, 100 entrepreneurs have been trained through the initiative, with the goal of training at least an additional 50 women.

Speaking at the bootcamp, Opeyemi Abebe, Head of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Trade Competitiveness Section, said:

“To facilitate trade and e-commerce, our focus should not only be on developing modern digital infrastructure and restoring the financial systems but also on embracing skills development.

“The lack of knowledge of business management, marketing, finance and logistics particularly impedes the progress of women entrepreneurs. Bridging this gap will enable women entrepreneurs to succeed and grow their businesses exponentially and this is what we collectively aim to achieve through the bootcamp.”

Nasser Al-Thekair, General Manager of Trade and Business Development at ITFC, said:

“E-commerce is widely acknowledged as a significant instrument for innovation, competitiveness, job creation, and growth. This bootcamp will provide women entrepreneurs in Cameroon with a chance to broaden their horizons and enhance their involvement in the global e-commerce trade.”

Micro, small and medium-sized businesses constitute a significant percentage of Cameroon’s private sector. The contribution of these businesses to job creation and poverty reduction in Cameroon is substantial. Their impact on the economy could be significantly greater if these businesses are able to take full advantage of domestic and export market opportunities and participate in global supply chains through e-commerce.

The initiative’s goal is to make it easier for more Cameroonian entrepreneurs to expand their market reach and make their goods and services available globally. The entrepreneurs will leave the bootcamp with concrete skills and resources, including how to attract an international audience, navigate payment systems, advice on supply chain management and a mock-up for their website.

Source: The Commonwealth.org

Southern Cameroons Reconstruction: Islamic Development Bank steps in with CFA21bn

11, May 2023

Southern Cameroons Reconstruction: Islamic Development Bank steps in with CFA21bn 0

The Cameroonian government has secured new financial support as part of the reconstruction of the war-torn Anglophone regions of the Northwest and Southwest. Yesterday, the Minister of Economy, Alamine Ousmane Mey, signed a loan agreement of €32.250 million (about CFA21.1555 billion) with Muhmmad Al Jasser, Head of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

This financing, the Cameroonian official said, “will support the government’s efforts to rebuild and rehabilitate essential infrastructure, strengthen social cohesion and revitalize the local economy in the targeted regions”. It is another helping hand in this reconstruction process, for which fund mobilization remains a headache.

Out of a requested CFA154 billion (about $258 million), Cameroon only raised CFA11.5 billion by mid-2022, representing a mobilization rate of 7.4%, official data showed. In detail, Paul Tasong, who coordinates the project, explained that 75% of this amount came from the State itself; the private sector contributed CFA1.2 billion; the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) CFA400 million; and Japan CFA1.5 billion. Last March, Japan approved an additional CFA1.3 billion, bringing its total contribution so far to CFA2.8 billion.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Football: Goalkeeper Andre Onana Sets UCL Record After Inter Win

11, May 2023

Football: Goalkeeper Andre Onana Sets UCL Record After Inter Win 0

Cameroonian goalkeeper, Andre Onana has set a new record as Inter Milan goalkeeper in the UEFA Champions League.

The former Ajax shot-stopper became the first Inter goalkeeper to keep seven (the most) clean sheets in a single season in the elite European competition.

Onana has also made the most saves in the competition, and the Nerazurris are on course to reaching the final of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2010.

According to Squawka, the Cameroonian holds the record beating goalkeepers Julio Caesar and Toldo in terms of clean sheets in a single season.

Meanwhile, quick-fire goals from Edin Dzeko and Henrik Mikhytaryan give Inter a two-goal advantage heading into the second leg next week at the San Siro.

“Great result, but job not finished yet. We still have a lot ahead. Forza Inter,” wrote the former Cameroon goalkeeper on Twitter after the match.

Onana joined Inter Milan on a free transfer last summer after leaving Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam.

He has since become an integral figure at San Siro as the Nerazurris chase European glory.

Eto’o meets Leao and Ibrahimovic

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Inter Milan legend, Samuel Eto’o, was given a warm welcome at the San Siro following his return to Italy, where he made history with the Nerazurris.

The Cameroon Football Federation president was in Milan for the UEFA Champions League semi-final clash between his former club and eternal rivals AC Milan.

Early first half goals from Eden Dzeko and Henrik Mikhytaryan ensured the blue side of Milan head into the second leg with the advantage.

Eto’o watches Inter play AC Milan in UCL

Legendary African footballer, Samuel Eto’o was joined by former Inter Milan and AC Milan stars for the UEFA Champions League semi-final between the two Italian giants at the San Siro Stadium.

Eto’o, a legend of Inter Milan, was also working as a pundit for the big encounter as his former club hoped to make the final for the first time since 2010, when the Cameroonian led them to an unprecedented treble.

The Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) president remains the only player to win back-to-back trebles with two different clubs, achieving the feat in 2009 with Barcelona and 2010 with the Nerazzurri.

Source: Sportsbrief

Southern Cameroons leader reiterates liberation of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia

11, May 2023

Southern Cameroons leader reiterates liberation of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia 0

The Vice President of the Ambazonia Interim Government says October 1, 2023 will begin a new path of the struggle for liberation of the entire Southern Cameroons territories from the clutches of the vicious French Cameroun regime.

Speaking exclusively to Cameroon Intelligence Report on Tuesday about the situation of the Southern Cameroons resistance, Dabney Yerima stated that October 1 this year will be a new beginning for the Ambazonia revolution and actions will be staged by Amba fighters that will hasten the liberation of the entire British Southern Cameroons.

Yerima said that all Southern Cameroons restoration groups will be at the forefront of such a campaign, emphasizing that the actions will go beyond the Moungo.

Dabney Yerima highlighted that Southern Cameroons resistance groups are moving towards the formation of a central command system in Ground Zero that will end the French Cameroun occupation.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Yerima also condemned the recent killing of a Southern Cameroons journalist in Bemanda and he underscored the need for Amba fighters to protect the people of Southern Cameroons.

Dabney Yerima stated that the Ambazonia Interim Government under the stewardship of President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe has gloriously and proudly emerged triumphant over problems in the past years, describing the extent of internal crises that the Biya French Cameroun regime is currently facing in Yaoundé as unprecedented since the 1984 coup.

He went on to note that Southern Cameroonians in Ground Zero are at the forefront of defending the homeland, emphasizing that special emphasis must be laid on providing generous support to Amba fighters.

By Chi Prudence Asong

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