- Bonavada Community use tournament as a medium to promote healthy living , peace and togetherness
By Ikome Christie-Noella Eposi in Buea
With an objective to promote healthy communities, social cohesion, unity and peace among the 13 Bonavada communities within Buea, the 12th annual edition of the Bonavada Football for Health Tournament has been launched this Sunday July 7 2024 at the Upper Bokova village community field.
Pulling a mammoth crowd from the villages of Bokova, Bwiteva, Boteva and other neighboring villages, the Chief Executive Officer of the tournament, Mbua Emmanuel Mbua expressed satisfaction with the turnout. Goodwill promoters, partners, sons and daughters of the community could be spotted at their various ends with smiles on their faces supporting their various football teams.
The kick-off match played by the under-15 category saw Makoko FC of Upper Bokova village beat Brasseries FC of Bokwai 1 goal to zero. In the 2nd game which was the senior women’s category, Santos Ladies FC from Boteva village had a 1-1 draw with the Buea United Queens FC. The 3rd game, senior men’s category saw defending champions, Mosoke Sports Academy FC defeated by BB United FC from Bwitingi and Bwiteva villages with a 3 goal to 1.
Talking to the CEO of the tournament, Mbua Emmanuel Mbua, he noted that the tournament is a yearly motivation especially as football promotes healthy living, social cohesion, unity, peace and togetherness. He explained that such initiatives equally seek to promote young talents within the community citing examples with the under-15 category. “The purpose of this tournament is not only to promote healthy living and togetherness but also to alleviate poverty and keep the youths busy during the holiday period. On the day of the finals (closing ceremony), we shall reach out to some widows and orphans and also donate some didactics to pupils and students as they prepare for the back-to-school year” Mbua Emmanuel stated.
“All the villages are represented in terms of participation and we are really impressed. This is the 12th edition and as the years come by; we intend to make the tournament bigger and better” Mbua Emmanuel averred.
He extended words of appreciation to all sponsors and goodwill promoters thanking them for believing in the vision and promised them that the tournament will continue to grow from strength to strength. The tournament equally witnessed interventions from the Mike Yanou Foundation and Global Health Systems Solutions (GHSS) who presented talks on health issues affecting the well-being of the people and what they can do to prevent some health-related issues.
The annually-organized project which started in 2013 is now in its 12th successive edition with 6 teams registered at the under-15 category, 4 teams at the senior women’s category and 11 teams at the senior men’s category.
It is important to note that aside the football component (Bonavada Football for Health Tournament), the Bonavada integrated football project also has the health, humanitarian and educational components specifically the back-to-school initiative. The tournament also seeks to carry out health awareness workshops focusing on the prevention of local health issues, improve mental health and psychosocial support services to 30 needy widows and 30 orphans across the Bonavada community and finally to showcase the cultural diversity and best practices of the Bonavada community.