Football enthusiast and die-hard Real Madrid fan, Alvan Njonjo, has been elected president of Wimbum Veterans (WIVET) Football Club, Yaounde, for a two-year mandate spanning 2027 to 2029.
WIVET is a community-based amateur veterans’ football organisation that brings together football lovers, former players and community members, predominantly from the Wimbum tribe in the Donga Mantung Division of the North West Region of Cameroon.
Njonjo was elected unopposed during an election held at the club’s meeting house in Biyem-Assi, Yaounde, on Saturday, October 17. The election was supervised by a three-member delegation from the Yaounde branch of the Wimbum Cultural and Development Association (WICUDA).
He takes over from Shei Derek, who headed the Yaounde chapter cumulatively with the national presidency.
Like the president, Ali Hilton, another veteran footballer and passionate supporter of English Premier League side Chelsea, was elected unopposed as vice-president. Hilton previously served as coach of WIVET Yaounde.
Ndi Blaise retained his position as Secretary General, with Ngala Beltus elected to assist him. Moni Edison was elected to oversee the organisation’s financial records, while Ngala Marcel keeps the club’s funds following his election as treasurer.
The new executive will complete the bureau with the appointment of a coach, captain, discipline master, two chief whips and a storekeeper, according to WIVET Yaounde laws.
New exco inherits FCFA 1.5M
Despite inheriting a negative balance sheet when they assumed office, a financial report presented by the outgoing executive revealed that the Njonjo-led team will inherit nearly FCFA 1.5 million in the WIVET Yaounde coffers, earning praises for financial transparency from members and the incoming executive.
Speaking on behalf of the newly elected executive, Njonjo thanked his predecessor and the outgoing team for their work, particularly commending their transparency in financial management, as reflected in the financial report.
“It is very rare to see a leisure and social group like WIVET presenting a balance sheet with a carry-over, let alone such an amount. We will follow in the same footsteps,” Njonjo said.
The new president also expressed gratitude to members for the confidence they had placed in the incoming executive. However, he stressed that their continued support throughout the mandate would be crucial to the team’s success and to efforts to move the organisation forward.
“This you will show us through payment of registration dues, weekly socials and other contributions for events like hosting of friendly matches,” he said.
Njonjo pledges more matches on green turf
In a pledge that drew thunderous applause from WIVET Yaounde members and observers in the hall, Njonjo promised that he and his executive would work to increase the number of matches played on natural grass pitches.
“We have our pitch on which we play weekly, but we will do our best to increase the number of matches that we play on green turf,” he pledged.
He also cautioned members against backbiting, insisting that the new executive would welcome constructive criticism and remain open to members’ concerns.
“We will not be perfect, but we will be open to genuine criticisms. Where you see we have gone out of the way, draw our attention; do not go and create another WIVET to talk about us there,” Njonjo said.
Nganyu Alfred who led the WICUDA Yaounde delegation to the vote commended the electoral process and urged the incoming executive to prioritise teamwork and demonstrate the “unity is strength” guiding principle of the Wimbum community.
The newly elected executive was expected to begin work the following weekend, though the outgoing president announced that their official installation will take place “in the coming days”.
The official installation ceremony is expected to take place during a friendly match between WIVET Yaounde and WIVET Kumba, in the presence of representatives of the national body.
