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28, October 2021

Cristiano Ronaldo announces partner expecting twins ⁰

Cristiano Ronaldo announced on social media on Thursday that his partner Georgina Rodriguez is expecting twins.

“Delighted to announce we are expecting twins. Our hearts are full of love – we can’t wait to meet you,” the 37-year-old Manchester United and Portugal star, who is already the father of four children, wrote on Instagram.

The post was accompanied by a photo of the couple lying in bed with Ronaldo holding up a double ultrasound for the camera.

The footballer’s eldest son, Cristiano Junior, was born in June 2010 to a surrogate.

Seven years later, in June 2017, Ronaldo became the father of twins Eva and Mateo in the same way. Alana Martina, born in November 2017, was the first child from his union with Rodriguez.

In 2017, Ronaldo told France Football that he wanted seven children.

Source: AFP

28, October 2021

Football: Barcelona fires coach Ronald Koeman after string of post-Messi defeats ⁰

After another poor performance and yet another loss, Ronald Koeman couldn’t hang on any longer as Barcelona coach.

It took less than three months after Lionel Messi’s departure for Koeman to finally succumb as the pressure kept increasing and the Catalan club’s struggles continued.

Barcelona announced Koeman’s firing shortly after the team’s 1-0 loss at Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish league on Wednesday.

The loss followed a 2-1 home loss to rival Real Madrid in the “clásico” at the Camp Nou Stadium on Sunday.

Koeman had said in a post-match interview Wednesday he didn’t know if his future with the club was at risk. He soon found out. Club president Joan Laporta informed the Dutch coach of his decision after the loss.

Captain Sergio Busquets had said Koeman shouldn’t be the only one to blame for the team’s poor performances.

“We are all on the same boat,” the midfielder said after the match, before the decision on Koeman was announced.

Koeman has been under constant pressure after a poor start to the team’s first season without Messi in nearly two decades. The Argentina star joined Paris Saint-Germain in August.

Barcelona said Koeman “will say goodbye to the squad on Thursday.”

Koeman leaves with the club in ninth place in the Spanish league standings with 15 points from 10 matches.

Among the team’s five losses this season were 3-0 results in the Champions League against Bayern Munich at home and at Benfica.

The loss to Rayo marked the team’s fifth away match without a win, something that hadn’t happened to the club in nearly two decades.

Barcelona won five matches and drew three this season under the Dutch coach who took over shortly after the team’s embarrassing 8-2 loss to Bayern in the Champions League last year. His only title with the Catalan club was last season’s Copa del Rey.

In total, Koeman coached Barcelona in 67 matches in his 15 months in charge, with 39 wins, 16 losses and 12 draws.

Barcelona last season finished third in the Spanish league and was eliminated by PSG in the quarterfinals of the Champions league.

Koeman had been publicly at odds with Laporta, though the club had recently expressed its support for the coach, including after he was harassed by a small group of fans outside the stadium after the home loss to Madrid last weekend.

Koeman had also upset some of his players after saying Barcelona would not realistically contend for much this season as it continued to deal with serious financial difficulties.

The club also lost Antoine Griezmann to Atlético Madrid and was relying mostly on youngsters who have been hastily promoted from its youth squads.

The coach reportedly agreed to let go of striker Luis Suárez after he arrived in a bid to help the team financially. Suárez went on to help Atlético win the league title last season.

A replacement for Koeman was not immediately announced, but Spanish media reported former player Xavi Hernández was the front-runner to take over.

The team’s next match is Saturday at home against relegation-threatened Alavés in the Spanish league.

Source: AP

28, October 2021

Ambazonians must stand against French Cameroun by any means ⁰

A Southern Cameroons front line leader in the Federal Republic of Germany says all Ambazonians are duty-bound to oppose the the 1961 union with the French Cameroun regime.

Dr Ngassa Anyangwe made the remarks on Wednesday in a ceremony held in Darmstadt, Germany in loving memory of the primary school pupil killed in Buea by a Francophone gendarme.

The renowned Southern Cameroons physician congratulated “General No Pity” and all Ambazonia Revolutionary Guards and noted that peace will be established in Southern Cameroons and the Federal Republic of Ambazonia will no longer be a French Cameroun colony.

“Biya and the French Cameroun military poses a threat to all Southern Cameroonians worldwide” Dr. Ngassa said, censuring all US based Ambazonian groups oppose to unity.

“Southern Cameroonians must stand against La Republique du Cameroun by any means they can,” Dr. Ngassa added.

He praised Vice President Dabney Yerima for standing firm on the Ambazonian cause despite all the distraction from Maryland and the Cho Ayaba gang.

“Sako and Ayaba represents wrong image of the Southern Cameroons struggle and must be ignored” Dr Ngassa furthered.

He also said both the so-called front line Southern Cameroons leaders depict a wrong image of the noble Southern Cameroons resistance.

By Chi Prudence Asong

28, October 2021

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Explosives Experts Exit War Zone ⁰

A 7-man delegation of Southern Cameroonian explosives experts has finally left Southern Cameroons after a two-week training session which has helped Southern Cameroonian fighters to gain a better understanding of how to assemble and deploy explosives for greater impact.

The delegation, which comprised two Southern Cameroonian engineers from the USA, three Cameroonians who have studied chemical engineering in China and two other experts from South Africa, landed in Nigeria three weeks ago and found its way to Manyu Division and then to the North West Region of the country, has left the country and is very satisfied with the outcomes of their mission.

The head of the delegation who lives in the United States told the Cameroon Concord News Group that the days ahead would be the worst for the military if it continued its rampage in the Northwest region.

The delegation head, a graduate of engineering with specialization in the use of explosives from an American university, told the Cameroon Concord News Group’s permanent correspondent in North America on condition of anonymity that the worst was yet to happen in this war as the new training had been designed to maximize casualties on the military’s side.

He advised that explosives had proven to be more effective in the fight against the country’s military, adding that the new explosives whose reach would be greater, would deliver more results.

He stressed that the purpose of training the fighters was to ensure that more body bags headed to East Cameroon so as to push the population to rise up against a government that is sending very young people to an early grave.

“For more than four years, the people of Southern Cameroons have proven that they can resist the military’s onslaught without external help. We now have to look for new ways to deliver more rssults and make the Francophone to feel the impact of the war,” he said.

“We have seen videos of people in the South region wailing and burying their young brothers killed by our brave soldiers in Southern Cameroons. They now know that there is no winner in a war and that having armored cars does not imply winning a war, especially a war fought in a jungle,” he pointed out.

“The military thought it would just head to Southern Cameroons and kill innocent people without consequences. Our armed groups are working together and this collaboration has taken the war to the South and Center Regions of the country. We have seen them crying. It is now clear that death is for everybody. We will fight to the last person. We will stop at nothing when it comes to securing the independence of Southern Cameroons. The government thought it would carry out a short expedition but it has been bogged in a quagmire and a nightmare that will not be going away anytime soon,” he said.

“We must continue to fight. We all must continue to bring our little contribution to the table. We must continue to prove to the Yaounde dictatorship that it cannot always have its way. It went to Southern Cameroons for a two-week expedition but it will end up being there for decades and burying thousands of its young and inexperienced soldiers,” he underscored.

“I am assuring you that the boys in the field are determined. They are in high spirits. The succeses of the last four months have transformed our fighters into formidable fighters. They have brought death and destruction to the government. The Diaspora should provide much-needed help to ensure that the boys remain in good spirits,” he concluded.

Meanwhile a group of Southern Cameroonians was in Canada last week to gain a better understanding of the Canadian federal system. The group, which included a lawyer and a political scientist, said it believed that Cameroon could be federally united and indivisible if the government really wanted to solve the issue that has become a hot potato in its mouth.

Before leaving Canada, the group met with some Cameroonians who also hold that the bloodshed in Cameroon can be stopped if the warring factions accept to meet each other halfway.

Members of the group agreed that the Canadian system was ideal for a bilingual country, adding that Québec had all the rights of an autonomous province which controls its educational system and ensures that the laws that prevail in the province are those the people want.

“Canada is a good example. Our people should take a look at Canada if they really want to address those issues that have triggered the war. It does not make any sense killing each other when there are many examples to draw on to ensure that we all live in harmony,” a group member said.

“I have been to Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto and I can say that Canada is a great federation that holds the solution to our problem,” the member concluded.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

27, October 2021

74 days to AFCON: Yaoundé is crumbling under the weight of 4000 tons of abandoned waste ⁰

Yaoundé is crumbling under the weight of garbage 74 days before the so-called Total Energies 2021 Africa Cup of Nations tournament scheduled from January 9 to February 6, 2022.

Garbage collectors in the capital city are on strike and workers of the company Hysacam are demanding three months of salary and better working conditions.

Cameroon Concord News understands the garbage collectors serving with Hysacam have been on strike for several days now and mountains of garbage have formed in the outskirts and popular areas of the city.

The city center is the most affected area with shopkeepers and customers breathing the polluted air and all the pestilential smells that the mountains of garbage give off.

Our Yaoundé city reporter says the nation’s capital is overflowing with garbage and for the past five days, cab drivers including highly placed government officials have been driving in the garbage.

A betting box owner at marché Mokolo revealed that businessmen and women are suffocating under the terrible smell. “It is increasingly painful to work in these conditions as customers do not even come anymore” the young man added.

Traders in the main market opposite the prime minister’s office are obliged to put a disposable handkerchief in front of their noses to breathe amid a crisis that involves at least 4000 tons of abandoned waste.

Hysacam has been in charge of collecting household waste since 1969. The company operates in about 20 cities in Cameroon. It collects more than 4,000 tons of waste per day in all the cities where it is located.

Anger is rising throughout the country a few days before the 33rd edition of the African Cup of Nations soccer tournament that the country will host. The authorities are being accused of laxity.

Last Thursday, Celestine Courtès, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, made it seem as if the problem had been solved. On Wednesday, Hysacam has still not resumed service. The company is claiming several billion CFA francs of unpaid bills from the Government Delegate to the Yaoundé City Council and the corrupt CPDM regime.

By Rita Akana

27, October 2021

Revisiting SOBA UK 2021 Stellar Convention At St George’s Park ⁰

This year, SOBA:UK pulled all the stops to host a memorable come-together which not only met all the standard health guidelines, but provided entertainment worthy of St George’s Park. Home of the England’s national football teams.

In line with the limitations and innovations of the Covid era, the General Assembly deliberations occurred virtually a week before the convention; thereby setting the stage for a convention weekend free from the usual intensity that accompanies AGMs.

This was an innovative approach that was effective, focused, and rewarding for all members.

Sobans with their families and guests had a wonderful time on Saturday morning as they enjoyed the breathtaking beauty of St George’s Park built on 330-acres in the stunning Staffordshire countryside, a couple of hours away from London.

It was a great opportunity for visitors to explore the Park, including its 14 outdoor pitches and one of them with a replica of the Wembley surface.

The convention gala was equally memorable with the official 4:30 pm kickoff time, and 6:00 pm dinner strictly enforced and respected.

Dinner was personally handled by none other than the Head Chef of the England National Football teams, Tim Barker.

The gala went on until 2:00 am. D.J Take Away was awesome and he definitely took away the two hundred plus guests with his non-stop musical output.

The gala was graced by the presence of Mr, Albert Fotabong Njoteh, High Commissioner for the Republic of Cameroon in the United Kingdom, who was happy to be amongst Cameroonians in such numbers.

Our hearty congratulations goes out to Franklin Egbe, President of SOBA:UK, Atem Akoh Arrey, Vice President, Obale Ebai, Chairman of the convention and to the entire exco and the management teams. Of course, we cannot forget the good-spirited members of SOBA:UK who were wonderful hosts.

We are already looking forward to the 2022 convention.

Thanks

Soban

Edwin Daniel Ndoko

27, October 2021

AFCON 2022 in Cameroon at risk? CAF releases statement ⁰

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has issued a statement following shock reports suggesting that the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations could be cancelled or postponed.

It was reported earlier this week that there was a chance that the upcoming AFCON was at risk of cancellation or postponement due to reported in-fighting between those responsible for organising the tournament.

Journalist Eduardo Hagn had claimed that this was due to the president of Cameroon’s football governing body, FECAFOOT, being “in his role illegally”.

The tournament is scheduled to take place between 9 January and 6 February next year after it was initially set to be hosted in Cameroon in June and July last year. It was, however, moved due to unfortunate weather conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement released on Monday, though, the CAF Executive Committee revealed that the upcoming tournament has been approved, with the official calendar soon to be distributed.

The statement, as per CAF’s website, read: “The Executive Committee received a comprehensive report from the CAF Organising Committee delegation led by Vice President Augustin Senghor and General Secretary, Veron Mosengo-Omba who recently visited Cameroon.

“The Executive Committee noted the report and the progress made so far. The EXCO emphasised the need to make follow-ups with the Local Organising Committee on the areas that still need some urgent attention ahead of the kick-off on 9 January 2022.

“On the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations and Covid19 situation and preparations for supporters, the Executive Committee raised some sanitary matters that will be part of on-going discussions between CAF and Cameroon government.

“The Executive Committee also ratified the signing of the Agreement for the Organising Association Agreement (OAA) of the AFCON with the host nation, Cameroon last weekend.”

On the 2021/22 CAF calendar, the statement concluded: “The Executive Committee approved the 2021/22 competitions calendar. The calendar will be distributed in due course.”

Source: SoccerLaduna

27, October 2021

Misery of a black minority: Southern Cameroons refugees facing persecution in Nigeria ⁰

Southern Cameroons refugees, who fled brutal French Cameroun military crackdown in their home country of Ambazonia are not only facing deplorable living conditions in neighboring Nigeria but are being targeted by both Nigerian and French Cameroun army soldiers in the Taraba communities, according to Cameroon Intelligence Report sources.

Our correspondent in the Federal Republic of Nigeria in a recent report said Southern Cameroonians have become a target in Taraba where Cameroon government army soldiers have carried out several raids ever since Abuja and Yaoundé agreed to counter both the Biafra and Ambazonia separatist movements.

The exodus of persecuted Southern Cameroonians from their homeland state started in 2016 when the 88-year-old President Biya declared war against English speaking Southern Cameroonians. Since then, thousands relocated to neighboring Nigeria, in a bid to escape persecution, murder, arson and rape by the Francophone military backed by France.

The savagery in Southern Cameroons has been described by the Norwegian Refugee Council as ethnic cleansing. The atrocities against Southern Cameroonians have been widely documented by the renowned Human Rights Watch and the Southern Cameroons Interim Government.

The number of Southern Cameroonians currently living in refugee camps in Nigeria is said to be about 200,000. Opportunities and health care in Cross River and Taraba states in Nigeria for the Southern Cameroons refugees are worse and in many local governments non-existent.

The Fulani dominated government in Nigeria headed by the frail President Buhari has issued detailed instructions for deportation of prominent Southern Cameroons activists, provoking an unprecedented cross-border crackdown against the Southern Cameroons communities in Calabar and Taraba states.

Cameroon Intelligence Report gathered that Southern Cameroons refugee communities are being targeted by both Nigerian and Cameroon government army soldiers. Camps harboring Southern Cameroons refugees have been set to fire, refugees beaten and many restrictions have been placed on the mediocre lives they live in Nigeria.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai with files

26, October 2021

Queen Elizabeth cancels COP26 appearance ‘on medical advice’ ⁰

Queen Elizabeth II has cancelled her planned engagement at the U.N. climate conference, accepting doctors’ advice to rest, Buckingham Palace said Tuesday.

The 95-year-old monarch has “regretfully’’ decided that she will no longer travel to Glasgow to attend the reception on Nov. 1 — a move that will dash the hopes of Britain’s Conservative government, which is anxious to show the importance of the session to the fate of the planet. The climate conference runs from Oct. 31 to Nov. 12 and her appearance was meant to kick it off in style and splendour.

“Her Majesty is disappointed not to attend the reception but will deliver an address to the assembled delegates via a recorded video message,’’ the palace said.

The news came after the sovereign held virtual audiences Tuesday at Windsor Castle — the first since revelations that her doctors ordered her to rest last week. The sovereign greeted the ambassador of the Republic of Korea during her first technology-aided appearance since she was driven to London’s King Edward VII’s Hospital on Oct. 20 for “preliminary investigations.” She returned to her Windsor Castle home at lunchtime the next day.

The queen underwent the medical tests after she canceled a scheduled trip to mark 100 years since the creation of Northern Ireland, and the palace said she had “reluctantly” accepted advice to rest for a few days. The matter was not related to COVID-19.

Her doctors ordered rest last week after a hectic few days in which a monarch who likes to be seen by the people carried out a hectic series of events. She held audiences with diplomats, had a reception at Windsor Castle for global business leaders and attended the horse races at Ascot.

Her hospital visit last week came amid general disquiet about Elizabeth’s health. Days earlier, she was seen using a walking stick at a Westminster Abbey service marking the centenary of the Royal British Legion, an armed forces charity. Though she had used a cane in 2003, it was after she underwent knee surgery.

The queen’s husband, Prince Philip, died in April 2021 at age 99. Though Elizabeth has enjoyed robust health throughout her life, she is Britain’s longest-lived and longest-reigning monarch. She is due to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee — 70 years on the throne — next year.

Source: AP

26, October 2021

Biya must be held accountable for crimes against Southern Cameroonians ⁰

The Southern Cameroons Interim Government (IG) has called upon the International Criminal Court to hold President Biya accountable for the incessant crimes and human rights violations against the people of Southern Cameroons, emphasizing that tough ICC action would prevent the French Cameroun regime from committing more war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Vice President Dabney Yerima said in a statement on Monday that the people of Southern Cameroons-Ambazonia have long been victims of gross, systematic, and rampant violations of human rights by the Francophone regime backed by France.

Dabney Yerima pointed to the excessive use of live ammunition against Southern Cameroons civilians as an example of crimes against humanity, denouncing the unwavering support of the French government headed by Emmanuel Macron for the French Cameroun regime’s heinous acts over the past five years.

The Biya dictatorial regime also violates freedom of expression by intimidating, arresting and incarcerating Southern Cameroons journalists covering human rights abuses of Ambazonians, Yerima furthered.

Yerima noted that troops loyal to the French Cameroun regime in Yaounde are preventing Southern Cameroons businessmen and women from trading and marketing most basic and essential needs, and the Francophone soldiers have also created a major obstacle that medical officials in Southern Cameroons have had to face in their COVID-19 response.

The exiled Southern Cameroons leader stated that the International Criminal Court must hold Biya accountable for his never-ending horrific crimes, stressing that such a strong measure would possibly stop the Yaounde regime from perpetrating more war crimes and crimes against humanity.

By Isong Asu in London