National leagues kick-off Saturday

Nineteen clubs, up from 14 last season, will play in the elite championship or League I that starts this Saturday, before the number of clubs drop to 18 the following season.

This is the decision of the Normalization Committee that met in Yaoundé on December 10, under the leadership of its President, Joseph Owona.

Armand Ndjock, Communication Officer of the Cameroon Professional Football League argued that club presidents requested the increase in number from 14 -18 so that clubs can play as many matches as possible.

But, there have been allegations that it was fashioned to readmit some clubs that descended into division two, such as Tonnerre Kalara Club, into the top league.

To arrive at 19 clubs Bamboutos of Mbouda was integrated into L1. It should be recalled that Bamboutous of Mbouda in 2007 was relegated to Division 2 for its involvement in corruption.

The Chamber of Arbitration of the Cameroon Olympic and Sports Committee in December 2013 rendered the decision null and void.

Against this backdrop, Fecafoot in a move to appease and put an end to the dispute has re-integrated the club into L1.

But, Fecafoot has instructed the Professional Football League to take the necessary measures to ensure that the championship is played with 18 clubs in the 2014/2015 season.

Meanwhile, the League II championship will be played with 18 clubs with eight promoted from the League II Qualifying Tournament.

Two clubs across the Mungo, Dynamic FC of Buea and Ngoketunjia FC of Ndop are among the eight new clubs in League II this season.

With the withdrawal of the sponsor, the League is still in negotiation with some sponsors though no concrete decision has been arrived at.

Camtel that sponsored the man of the man ceremony and announced that the outfit was in football to stay is not yet the official sponsor.

There have been meetings and negotiations, Ndjock said.

The government, according to Ndjock will double the package of 560,000 million to clubs. The federation also agreed to give 30 percent of the World Cup qualification fall-outs to the Leagues.

The 2014 season would be launched on February 1 and the fixtures for the first three days have been made public and the League is expected to come up with the complete programme.

With 19 clubs, during every match day, one team will have to rest during every match day.

Day 1, February 2014

Douala: Astres VS Unisport Haut-Nkam Njombé: UMS de Loum VS Sable de Batié Mbouda: Bamboutos VS Coton sport Garoua Douala: Union VS Scorpion de Bé Yaoundé: Apejes de Mfou VS DAC Yaoundé: CanonVS Cosmos de Bafia Bangangté : Panthère VS Tonnerre de Yaoundé Limbé: Njalla Quan VS Rennaissance de Ngoumou Bandjoun: Fovu de Baham VS New stars de Douala Yong Sport de Bamenda exempted Day 2, February 5

Douala : New stars VS UMS Douala : DAC VS Union de Douala Bafang : Unisport VS Apejes Bafang : Sable VS Coton sport Bamenda : Yong sport VS Canon Yaoundé : Tonnerre VS Scorpion Bandjoun : Fovu VS Cosmos Yaoundé : RenaissanceVS Panthère Limbé : Njalla Quan VS Bamboutos Astres FC of Douala exempted. Day 3 February 12

Njombe : UMS VS Renaissance Garoua : Coton sport VS Fovu Garoua : Scorpion VS Njalla Quan Douala : Astres VS Tonnerre Yaoundé : Cosmos VS DAC Mbouda : Bamboutos VS Panthère Yaoundé : Canon VS Sable Yaoundé : Apejes VS New stars Bamenda: Yong sport VS Unisport Union de Douala exempted.