Bamenda hosts Tikitaka football training camp

A three-day football training camp has ended at the Bamenda Municipal Stadium on November 22, 2015.

Organized by a Swedish NGO, TIKITAKA and a Cameroonian, at the World of Champions [WOC] based in Bamenda, the exercise brought together some 150 pupils from 8 primary schools and 10 coaches from the municipality.

While declaring the camp open, Mr. Njah William, sitting in for the Regional Delegate of Youth and Physical Education lauded the initiative noting that it was in line with the government's effort to promote sports in the country.

He encouraged the participants to take the exercise serious as it may be a step towards greatness.

Njah William finally appealed to the organizers to consider the venture during the long vacation for maximum participation as children love playing.

For his part, Borge Gustavsson and some officials revealed that the football camp which is the first of its kind in Cameroon was to ensure that talents in every child are developed fully. He also wished that some of the youths in camp will be part of the Cameroon National Football selection come 2022 FIFA world cup.

He noted with satisfaction the level of participation adding that Tikitaka and WOC have come to stay and develop talents, promote education and the psychological development of the child.

Gustavsson also expressed the wish that the camp will in the near future be planted in all Regional Headquarters nationwide and will be followed by 3 sports academies for U17 and the senior categories.

Tikitaka, as explained by Tommy, is a football play style that has to do with maintaining ball possession, working the ball through various channels and characterized by short passes and movements.

A system practiced and used by most clubs in Europe, he further explained that the word, Tikitaka was first used in the 2006 FIFA world cup match between Tunisia and Spain where the commentator described the style of play by the Spanish team as such and can also relate to toys used by children to play.

Hence the name, Tikitaka. Although the football camp took place on a sandy pitch it is hoped that a synthetic playground for the Bamenda Municipal stadium and a giant one for the municipality as announced by Fecafoot officials in the region will host the next edition.

When the football camp came to a close on Sunday, participants were each given certificates, a football and a set of Tikitaka sportswear. Participation fee ranged from 10,000FCFA to 30,000 FCFA.The football camp was held under the theme, 'See, think and do'.