The 2014 edition of National League One Championship has just witnessed its traditional seasonal break. While it is certainly too early to draw definitive mid-term lessons, it is still advisable to dwell on some signals, positive or not, which give an idea of the big trends.
Overall, the stage will go alternated good and not good. If we keep only the order of the ranking arithmetic, one can only have a mixed feeling about the attitude displayed by each other.
In view of the various benefits over the days, we would have had some good surprises, but also many disappointments. Among the satisfactions, consider the excellent performance of newly promoted League One outfit, which occupies the forefront clubs. This is Cosmos Bafia, third overall, who finished in style by winning 1-0 against Ums of Loum, another leading man in good form; Apejes of Mfou confirmed its ambition to play a leading role in ending the first phase beautifully by beating Sable of Batié.
More surprising has been the victory of Scorpion of Bé against Yong Sport Academy in Bamenda.
More convincing has been the strong form of league leaders, Unisport of Haut Nkam who has been invincible since the beginning of this season at home; and consolidated its leadership position before the break. All indicators seem to favour the team president Emmanuel Leubou totaling ten victories including 5 away, 5 draws and 2 defeats away. Another pleasant surprise has been the resilience of Bamboutos Mbouda that gradually forgets the status of “recovered” which was in her early season.
For the rest, providing some iconic teams left the audience wanting more. For now, Union Sportive of Douala seems to have delayed momentarily ambitions early in the season. Also is the trotting Coton Sport. The presence of legendary clubs like Canon of Yaoundé and Tonnerre all at the bottom of the ranking table as a result of their internal troubles has seen their ability to win drop.
In the end, if we exclude the bad atmosphere in some clubs, waltz coaches, some controversy at the arbitration or the vast discretion of the League, this phase has been going smoothly as that marked previous seasons by disagreements between the CFL and club presidents. Still, all is not rosy in the sun. For what is certain, the return phase will be hotly contested and will be full of drama as misclassified and potential relegation teams have not said their last word.
