At New Year wishes ceremony: Minister prescribes efficiency, responsibility to meet 2025 objectives.

This was on Tuesday, January 28. He was speaking during a ceremony to receive New Year wishes from the sports community.

The event served as a platform to outline the country’s sporting vision for the year, which, as per officials, will be guided by the theme: "Efficiency, Responsibility, and Performance”.

Addressing the sports community, Minister Mouelle Kombi emphasised the need for the cultivation of a winning mentality to achieve success across all disciplines.

The minister said, the government aims to surpass its 2024 performance, where Cameroon won 471 medals across more than 60 competitions worldwide. 

Prof Mouelle Kombi then prescribed 500 medals as the target for 2025 in all competitions.

A key focus in 2025 will be ensuring the active participation of Cameroonian athletes in major international events, including the African Youth Games in Rwanda, the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, and the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON in Morocco 2025. 

With AFCON approaching, the Minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to providing the necessary support for the Indomitable Lions to excel in the tournament.

As per the official, beyond competitions, 2025 will also mark the renewal of leadership within sports federations as part of the 2025–2028 Olympic cycle. 

To ensure smooth and transparent electoral processes, the Ministry has planned consultations with all stakeholders. 

The Minister also issued a strong warning against governance irregularities.

“The government will not tolerate dual leadership, indiscipline, usurpation, falsification, or imposture in sports management,” he said.

Prior to the minister’s address, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Sports, Joseph Yerima, acknowledged several challenges that hindered progress in 2024.

He said the challenges included a weak understanding of public finance reforms, governance issues within sports associations, and limited financial resources.

The minister pledged to address the said shortcomings in 2025 to ensure a more efficient and successful sports policy.

Pundits and sports lovers say that, with a clear roadmap in place, the pursuit of 500 medals is not just a numerical target but also a call for improved discipline, better governance, and enhanced resource mobilization in the country's sports sector.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3356 of Saturday February 01, 2025