Unisport: Back from relegation, now leading title race

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By Beng Emmanuel Kum

Relegated, promoted, and now frontrunners in the MTN Elite One title race. The rise of Unisport of the Upper Nkam has been nothing short of remarkable.

From being written off to finishing at the top of the table at the end of the first phase of the championship, the West Region football club is only 13 matches away from winning their first league title since 1996.

After spending over five years in the second tier, Unisport are now among the firm favorites to secure the coveted title following an impressive start of the season.

Do they have a realistic chance to win silverware?

“You have to suffer to win”

No one likes to lose in their first home match of the season. Unisport certainly felt the sting after falling to Aigle Royal of the Menoua in a West Region derby in just their first match back in the top flight after promotion.

Unisport was hoping to send a statement that they were back but were reminded in the cruelest of fashion that they might not have a place in the top tier after all.

It took a second half brace from Ymele Creol for the host to understand the daunting task before them this season and the stark contrast between the Elite One and Elite Two. 

Unisport followed that performance with a goalless stalemate against Panthere Sportive of Nde. In two matches, they were yet to know what it felt like to celebrate a win, talk less of a goal in the country’s first division.

But they bounced back stronger, learning from their mistakes and transforming into a formidable force this season.

Their resurgence started with a narrow 1-0 win at Fauve Azur Elite of Yaounde. A first goal and a first win ended a run of two games without victory.

They later won four successive games to completely put the past behind them. The most impressive win of the five successes in a row was against Canon Sportif of Yaounde in a seven-goal thriller.

The head coach of Unisport, Laurent Djam famously said after the game on February 16 that: “When you have a match where your central defenders are playing Saint Valentine with their teammates, they give two passes, and two goals, that complicates a match for you.”

Djam was referring to the blunder of his defenders in the game. “(…) You have to suffer to win,” Djam said.

He added that: “Until now, I have been looking for a team. I am beginning to find one. I have not spent up to a month at the helm of the club. I started on January 17; I am still looking to build a team. I think that as we progress into the championship, we will have a good and resilient squad.”

But a run of six-matches came to a painful end when Unisport lost 3-0 to AS Fortuna on matchday 8 on March 1.

They are now back to a run of five-matches without defeat including four wins in a row.

After a goalless stalemate against reigning champions Colombe, Unisport beat Stade Renard 2-1, edged Aigle of Moungo 1-0, picked up a slim 1-0 win against Coton Sport, and defeated Dynamo of Douala 2-1 to complete the first phase top on the table with 29 points. They are also four points clear at the top.  

Unisport were already champions of the first phase with a game to spare when they headed for the game against Dynamo of Douala. They have shown the growing power of a side that is shaping up as a serious Elite One title contender.

They are ending an era where newbies or returnees in the league are punchline for other clubs to feast on.

Unisport has won nine matches with two draws and two defeats. They have also scored 15 goals and conceded 11 times. Only Coton Sport on 10 goals and Colombe Sportive of the Dja and Lobo on nine goals have conceded fewer goals than them.

Unisport has developed a knack for producing key moments in the league and look in firm control of the championship.

Writing off other contenders like second place Coton Sport, PWD of Bamenda and Gazelle, and Canon Sportif, even Dynamo is a hazardous occupation but Unisport look so superior that it would be a surprise if they relinquish their lead in the second phase.   

This story was first published on The Guardian Post Sports

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