MTN Elite One: Dynamo fires head coach, AS Fortuna players embark on strike.

Its management on Monday announced ending working relations with the team’s head coach, Ina Okoh Anthony Ngassa. 

He will be replaced by Muth Jean Pierre who has been appointed as interim head coach. 

The decision to terminate the contract of the football trainer was taken by the Executive Committee of the club. 

It was made public in a press release, dated February 3, 2023 and signed by the Secretary General of Dynamo FC, Barrister Patrice Um.

Ina Ngassa’s sacking came just a day after Dynamo suffered a 0-1 defeat to city rivals, Union Sportive of Douala in a match day 10 encounter of the Elite One championship.

The top management of the club has however reassured supporters that they are working to ensure the club’s objectives for this season are met.

“The Executive Committee reassures supporters, sympathisers and the entire Dynamo family that the objectives of the club for the 2024/2025 season remain unchanged,” reads part of the release.

Dynamo announced the departure of coach Ina Ngassa at the time the club is ranked 9th on the classification table of the 16-club championship with 12 points.

In 10 matches since the start of the current football season in December 2024, the Bon Ba Djob have won three, drawn three and lost. 

Inna Ngassa becomes the seventh head coach of an Elite One club to be dropped from their role this season. 

The other clubs that fired their trainers include Panthere of Nde, Coton Sport of Garoua, Union of Douala, Stade Renard of Melong, Bamboutos of Mbouda and Aigle of Moungo.

Fortuna players threaten to boycott rest of league if…

On their part, players of Centre Region football club, AS Fortuna of Mfou have embarked on a strike action, threatening to boycott the rest of Elite One games for this season.

In a letter addressed to management and signed by 25 players, they expressed their frustration of not having received their salaries and match bonuses since the start of the 2024/2025 season.

The striking players also disclosed that the head coach and his assistant have equally not been paid their salaries since December and this has resulted to a lack of morale within the team.

They are also accusing the club management of haven abandoned three of their teammates; Landry Belamo, Mbarga Ngankou, and James Ebada currently suffering from injuries. 

The players are calling for the club to provide the necessary medical care and support for their rehabilitation.

According to the AS Fortuna players, they will only return to action if their grievances with the club administration are satisfactorily addressed. 

The club ranked 14th on the league table, has managed to secure only 10 points from 10 games played.  

The current situation in the club is further complicated by the recent passing of its emblematic leader, Roger Noah Minala founder in 2024, which has likely contributed to the ongoing instability and turmoil within the club.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3360 of Wednesday February 5, 2025