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MMA: the world champion Ngannou welcomed as a hero in Cameroon

2021-05-06T06:15:59.585Z


 Francis Ngannou received a star welcome in his country last weekend. Impressive, its popularity.


A concert of horns welcomes the child of the country: Francis Ngannou, world heavyweight champion in mixed martial arts (MMA), made a triumphant return last weekend to his native village of Batié, in the west from Cameroon.

The colossus of 1m93 for 113 kilos, nicknamed "The Predator", defeated in Las Vegas on March 28 by KO the American Stipe Miocic, holder of the title, thus becoming the first African to obtain this world consecration in the most prestigious of leagues, the American Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Standing in the back of a pick-up, Francis Ngannou, smile on his face and golden champion's belt in front of him, greets the supporters of his small town who have come to cheer him on. While the endless convoy of vehicles accompanying the 34-year-old champion crosses the main axis serving this town of about 20,000 people, a myriad of children, women and old people come out as the procession advances. On the esplanade of the foundation created by Francis Ngannou in Batié to supervise young athletes, nearly 2,000 people took their places for a welcoming ceremony. The world champion, admirer of Mike Tyson, speaks in a calm and calm voice. Far from the image of the "Predator" on the rings, he who devotes himself to an extreme combat sport which allows kicks, punches, knees,elbow and ground passages.

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“Here is the belt,” he says in ghomala, a language in western Cameroon, in front of a jubilant crowd. “This belt is very beautiful, but it's just a piece of metal. For me, the most important thing is what it conveys, it represents faith and determination, ”continues Mr. Ngannou. "Ngannou Champion", we read on a sign carried, in the middle of the crowd, by a young fan, Armand Teguia, who left Yaoundé, the capital, nearly 300 km away, to celebrate the one he considers a " model". "I am so moved, happy, proud to have a big brother who is world champion and who is the pride of Cameroon," he enthuses. “It gives me hope, the desire to work. It's the best, there aren't two, ”he continues.

Francis Ngannou, born in 1986, spent his childhood in Batié. He abandoned his studies at college and went on odd jobs to survive, working successively in a sand quarry or as a motorcycle taxi driver. He later discovered combat sports. But the lack of prospects in Cameroon pushes him into exile. In 2013, he arrived clandestinely in France, where he slept for a while in the street in Paris before meeting people that allowed him to pursue his career in the martial arts. “I am not a legend. I'm just a village kid who believed in his dreams, ”he says. "What I remember from my career is that it's possible as long as you believe in it, it's possible as long as you hang on," he says. “When he was very young,I could already sense a lot of determination in him. I understood that he had a very specific goal to achieve in life, but he had never revealed it to anyone ”, testifies Ferdinand Kamga, who rubbed shoulders with the“ predator ”when he was working in the quarry. sand.

“Francis picked me up from the street to put me where I am now.

I had nothing to eat.

Today, I have a good framework to train at any time ”

Desmond Tamungang

In 2019, Francis Ngannou opened a multisport center in his village to train young people in martial arts. Eight times English champion of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Sam Michael Crook settled in Batié in 2019 to supervise young people from the center of Ngannou. Several dozen young people train there. “Everything is free,” said the Briton. “It's a first center. We have planned a second room in Buéa in the South-West region, but we will not stop there ”, promises Francis Ngannou. “The project is huge and aims to cover the entire national territory with (...) opportunities given to young people to be able to train in sport and to promote their personal development; which will allow children to believe in their dreams, ”he says. "Francis merecovered from the street to put me where I am now. I had nothing to eat. Today, I have a good framework to train at any time ”, testifies Desmond Tamungang, champion of Cameroon of MMA of 28 years. He is due to participate in the African MMA Championship in mid-May, with the aim of having the same record as his mentor. “I'm working hard to keep this world champion title here. Nothing will prevent me from having this belt. I want to have more than Francis Ngannou ”, he ambitions. In Batié, he is not the only one to cherish this dream.with the aim of having the same track record as his mentor. “I'm working hard to keep this world champion title here. Nothing will prevent me from having this belt. I want to have more than Francis Ngannou ”, he ambitions. In Batié, he is not the only one to cherish this dream.with the aim of having the same track record as his mentor. “I'm working hard to keep this world champion title here. Nothing will prevent me from having this belt. I want to have more than Francis Ngannou ”, he ambitions. In Batié, he is not the only one to cherish this dream.

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Source: lefigaro

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