Crisis-Hit Canon Yaoundé Plummets

Following a deflating 3-1 defeat at the hands of Renaissance of Ngoumou at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium a fortnight ago, Cameroun's record league title holders succumbed to their seventh defeat of the new season.

The loss left the famed club rooted on a paltry three points from eight matches and bottom of Cameroun's League 1; a scenario the incensed club's loyal followers and supporters could not take any longer without intervening in the crisis. Trying to stir the club management into taking remedial measures to halt the poor run of results, the supporters attacked the club executive committee. They blamed the club leadership for the poor run of results and demanded that concrete steps be immediately taken to address the situation that had left Cameroun's top side and one of Africa's famed clubs in turmoil.

Canon Yaounde board chairman Céline Eko acted swiftly. The following day, he announced the sacking of coach Bertin Ebwelle. Through Ebwelle's sacking, Eko had hoped to "calm" fast rising tempers and usher the club to a new level of technical direction and reverse the dwindling fortunes on the pitch. But the firing of Ebwelle - a former club player and a member of the Indomitable Lions who shone at Italia'90, only added to fueling a fire that was waiting to burst into flames with the right mix of combustible ingredients.

It did not take long before the club's rival leadership factions dug in to consolidate their positions and claim to be ahead of the other. The club has had two factions claiming to be legitimate office bearers of the once glamour side. Board chairman Eko is faced not only with urgently addressing the dwindling fortunes of the club but fending off the rivalry of the Council of Elders. The Council of Elders positions itself as the "moral authority and custodian of the values and spirit of Canon".

The Council of Elders is under the tutelage of the former club player and ex Indomitable Lions skipper Emmanuel Kunde. Kunde's Council has since taken the decisive step of kicking out Eko's 'squad' from the club stronghold of the Nkolndongo "Malian Stadium. Canon, or the faction of Eko and some players now work from the Omnisport Annex Stadium.

The "Kpa kum" Céline Eko's faction also weighs in with backing and recognition from the Cameroon Football Federation and Cameroon Professional Football League.

With that stand-off, the Council of Elders is now pushing for the holding of a congress at which they hope to oust Eko and his executive.

The Council's calls for a congress and change is not only backed by the team's poor run of results but by serious allegations made by the club's former coach.

There are allegations of poor management, contentions of financial maladministration and a deterioration of welfare of players. The Council and other stakeholders assert that the dire situation of the team has made it difficult for the club to attract players. Not to mention star players. In the seventh round of league matches, Canon skipper Paul Serge Atangana Mvondo was forced to play in goal as the squad had no substitute goalkeeper during the clash against Tonnerre Kalara. Goalie Engola Nkaké was sent off forcing the captain to stand between the posts but could do nothing more spectacular as Canon went on to lose the match 2-1.

Following the defeat to Tonnerre Kalara, now sacked coach Ebwelle blamed the poor performance and loss on the difficulties the club was experiencing. He said lack of money and general poor state of the club was demotivating the players.

"The players and I are bearing the situation but I must be honest to admit that it cannot last any longer. Go over to the Annex Stadium during a training session and you will see for yourself what the players are enduring. The players can hardly eat or take care of themselves. It is time for management to do something," Ebwelle said in a clear indictment of the club's leadership.

Origin of the Crisis

Divisions among the ranks of the "green and red" can be traced back to 2009 during the leadership of the late club chairman Théophile Abega, former Indomitable Lion and 1984 Africa Cup of Nations winner.

Abega was succeeded by Henri Claude Mvondo Mbédé, was in power only for a few months. Mbede was ousted by Célestin Mbombok, who was also dethroned at the 30 October 2011 Club General Assembly by Céline Eko.

Matters began to heat up and 'fall apart' for Eko following his sustained opposition to the Council of Elders and the resignation of the club's team manager Louis Marie Ondoua, another ex-Indomitable Lion.

During the 2012-2013 Cameroon league pre-season, there were already two teams of Canon Sportive of Yaoundé which were preparing for the championship; a situation that repeated itself at the start of the 2013/2014 season.

But before the 2012/13 season got underway, the factions signed a "ceasefire" and the two rival teams merged before starting the start of the championship. The fruits of a harmonious Canon were almost immediately visible; the «Kpa kum» finished in 5th position in the league and were finalists of the 2013 Cameroon Cup.

However, the peace could not hold longer. At the start of 2014, the rivals were at each other as the old demons returned. Céline Eko and the Council of Elders are once more at daggers drawn. Yet again, there are two Canon teams at the start of the new 2season and the league campaign has got underway.

Two "teams" claiming to be Canon are training at different venues and under two different leaderships; one under Eko and the authority of the Board of Directors, the other the Council of Elders.

The anarchy and chaos in the leadership has sent shivers down spines of many players who may have wished to don the green and red. Some stars have since left the club. The captain, Pierre Wome Nlend, the 2000 and 2002 Africa Cup winner with the Indomitable Lions, has left and joined the Union des Mouvement Sportifs (UMS) of Loum. There could well yet be more departures and a long wait before Canon can bring joy to its followers who last celebrated a championship way back in 2002.

The fans will be hoping for a permanent ceasefire soon for a glamour side with a long and rich history of success dating back to the 1970s from when the club launched itself on the continental side and has played in some of the continent's memorable matches against other top African sides.

As the club trudges towards its 85th anniversary, Cameroun football will look to see how the rival factions of the 10 time Cameroun champions, the 11 time Cameroun Cup winners will emerge. For the ordinary fan and follower, they dream for a day when Canon will make headlines for its footballing prowess and fame which has included many famous Indomitable Lions names and not the bitter wrangling which has left it bottom of the championship in the new season. They want to hear who the next Thomas Nkono would be; who the next Jean Manga Onguéné would be; who next Canon star to lift a championship and try and conquer Africa would be.