Legendary local football Club, Union Sportive de Douala has been relegated to inferior Elite two football, after 63 years of their existence. The six times Cup of Cameroon winners and 1979 CAF Champions League winners were defeated 1-0 Sunday August 29 by defending champions PWD in Bamenda.
The last set of games in the Elite 1 Championship were played over the weekend and the front pages carry a very touching story. Union Sportive of Douala has been relegated as per the league standings.
The club’s hopes were shattered by a 77th minute goal from PWD of Bamenda’s Ze Abessolo after their match on Sunday August 29 at the Yong Sport Center in Bamenda.
The defeat left the six times Cup of Cameroon champions with 18 only points after 22 games –four victories, six draw games, ten defeats to occupy the 10th position in pool A out of an 11 team standing.
The 1979 CAF Champions League winners whose last silverware came in 2012 are the fourth team to be sent to the second tier this season after the likes of New Stars of Douala, Yaounde II FC and Panthere of Nde.
Union Sportive of Douala is the only first division football team that had never known relegation since its creation in 1955 in Newbell. Since 1958, the club has been playing first division football and has within this period won the league five times. It has also won the Cup of Cameroon six times and also have a history on the continent. Sunday’s twist has thus been considered as the first biggest casualty in this decade.
Their relegation into Division two has left thousands of the club’s supporters very disgruntled and frustrated. Many are pointing accusing fingers to club management for what they term inadequacies in the running of the club.
In recent years, other emblematic clubs such as Canon and Tonnerre of Yaounde as well as PWD of Bamenda tasted the furry of the Elite 2 competition in Cameroon.
Ariane Foguem
