Cameroon’s PWD Bamenda braves conflict to prepare for new season

The team faced a delayed start to preseason due to a socio-economic crisis in northwest Cameroon, but players remain upbeat as they prepare for the new season which kicks off on October 17.

Oliver Ochieng, Marabou News Agency

Cameroonian Premier League side PWD Bamenda has stepped up preparations ahead of the start of the top flight, Elite One 2026/27 season. The team faced a delayed start to preseason caused by a two-week lockdown in the northwest region linked to the ongoing socio-political crisis.

The Abakwa Boys got their preparations underway later, leaving the technical staff with limited time to fine-tune the squad ahead of the opening game of the new season on October 17.

Despite the shortened preparation period, the mood within the camp appears positive, with both experienced players and newcomers embracing the work ahead. Among the new faces is Arrey Fernand, who joined PWD Bamenda from Dynamo de Douala, and Djembé Henry, who arrived from Ngoketunjia United.

Head coach Tama Wango acknowledged the challenges surrounding the delayed start to preseason, but remained focused on getting the team ready.

“And so, we are far behind time, we are very conscious of that, and we think that with the integrated training method that we are applying at this particular point in time, we believe that by the beginning of the championship, we are going to be ready,” he said.

“Yes, for now, it’s quite intense. The intensity and volume are high; density too is very high. We think that, and we have been training throughout the week, except on days that the political atmosphere does not permit us to work, to train.”

Captain Ngufor Terence highlighted the unity within the dressing room, stressing the willingness of the old and new players to work together under the coach and push towards the club’s objectives.

“This is a new season and we have been preparing so well, even though we have some new players that have joined the team, we’ll keep on working and we pray, let the coach do the best and choose the best team for us. For that, we trust our coach, even though some of the old players have left, but the new players that are coming in, they are up to the task, the task that the coach is going to give us.”

With October 17 fast approaching, PWD Bamenda are racing against time to make up for lost ground. The delayed preseason has presented an early challenge, but the Abakwa Boys are now focused on turning their limited preparation time into a strong start to the new Elite One campaign.

PWD Bamenda finished 7th on the 14-team log last season. Despite being based in a conflict zone, the team has represented Cameroon in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup assignments twice.

The team participated in the CAF Champions League during the 2020/2021 season and the CAF Confederation Cup during the 2022/2023 season.

Both outings ended in the preliminary round eliminations against South Africa’s Kaiser Chiefs and Madagascar’s ASSM Elgeco Plus.

Marabou News Agency

Stringer: Tebo Berinyuy

Editor: George Mutero

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