By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
AS Massoda Rugby Team have crowned champions of the third edition of the Loyalty Sevens Tournament, played on Saturday, November 7, at the Olembé Annex B stadium in Yaoundé.
The mixed-gender competition brought together 14 teams, 10 men’s and four women’s sides, who played a total of 30 matches. AS Massoda defeated the Lions Rugby Team 19-7 in a hard-fought final. Both sides had faced tough opposition on their way to the decider.
AS Massoda took an early lead, but the Lions quickly pulled level, and the teams went into half time on equal terms. In the second half, both sides stepped up their tactical play, but it was AS Massoda who pulled away for the win.
AS Massoda also won the previous edition’s final, beating Les Abeilles d’Etoudi 21-10. In the third-place match, Falcons Rugby Team comfortably beat Bees Rugby Team 26-7. In the women’s final, Honey Female Rugby Team defeated Eagles 12-0.
The two women’s sides had also met in the final of the second edition, when Honey emerged victorious after the teams were deadlocked throughout regular time.
Speaking to the press after the defeat, Lions captain expressed disappointment but said the team was proud of its performance.
“We are very happy to have played this final today. We showed what we, the veterans, are capable of,” he said. “We lost the match due to some details, but we are a club of veterans and we will come back very strong. We will win next time.”
For AS Massoda captain Abel Martial, the victory rewards hard work. “After the last tournament, we corrected a lot of things. Hard work always pays off,” he said, adding that the team still has surprises in store for the next tournament.
Alfred Daniel Bisso, Technical Director of Groupe Essono, praised the level of play. He said the group had done what it knows best in organising, promoting and developing rugby at grassroots level, and had kept the flame alive.
“We are going to continue in that aspect because we are hoping that the Minister of Sports, despite the effort we are doing, will understand that rugby is for the youth of Cameroon, and will put in place the transitional committee asked by World Rugby in order to organise the election in Cameroon,” he said.
He added that organisers had spotted many promising players who will be called up for a training camp in the coming days, as Cameroon has been invited to take part in an international competition in the sub-region. After that, the Under-15 championship will be launched.
The Loyalty Sevens Tournament was created to keep the spirit of the game alive while the Cameroonian Rugby Federation remains suspended by international governing bodies. The second edition drew 16 teams: 11 men’s and five women’s.
