International News: Fernand NKERO, A Champion Worth His Weight In Gold

News

On July 24, 2022, the Gabonese woke up with an African judo champion in the category of juniors under 66 kg. Indeed, during the night of July 23 to 24, Fernand NKERO, black belt 1st dan of judo, all crowned with the title of gold medalist of the African Cup cadets-juniors of Niamey, won a few days earlier in the capital of Niger, had, for the second time in a few days, sounded the national anthem of Gabon. It was in Nairobi, Kenya. Born in Port-Gentil on April 10, 2003, Fernand NKERO has a lot to live up to. Indeed, it is his aunt, Master Chantal KACH NKOLA, today black belt 4th dan of judo, who takes him under her wing in her club, the Association Sportive un Vent Nouveau (ASVN) when he is 15 years old. The child turns out to be almost gifted in this martial art, because three months after his debut, he is crowned champion of Gabon in the category of cadets under 60 kg and is called to the national team. Master KACH remembers: "The kid didn't even have enough to wear. In addition, it was necessary to preserve him, especially since the federation did not have a place to house the athletes. It is Michel ESSONGHE, who had already offered him his first kimono, who gave us his support and offered the little one everything he needed".

Thus, since 2018, the one who will continue his training at the Social Sports and Cultural Association of Total Gabon (now TotalEnergies EP Gabon), with Georges Eric Nkoma as mentor, will pile up trophies both at the national and continental levels, while continuing his studies. After obtaining his BAC B in 2021, he flew to Casablanca (Morocco) to begin studies in management. He joined the AS Douanes club and trained regularly with the Moroccan national team, which prepared him a little for the various competitions in which he took part, it should be noted, without a coach. Patrick ADANHODOU, president of the judo league of Ogooué-Maritime, who had visited him a few weeks earlier, had met, he said, an athlete determined and ensuring to be able to climb on the highest step of the podium. What he did. The rest is history. A learning tour at the world championship thanks to a chain of solidarity and the recognition of the nation because he will now continue his adventure in France, the Gabonese state having granted him a sport-study scholarship as a high-level athlete. He also benefits from an Olympic scholarship. He is sure that he will continue to write beautiful pages of Gabonese judo.

SOME LINES OF FERNAND NKERO'S PALMARES (sources: Georges Eric NKOMA)

At the national level (-60 kg)

2018

Gold medal at the championship of Gabon cadets

Silver medal at the championship of Gabon seniors

Bronze medal at the International Tournament of the City of Port-Gentil

2019

Gold medal at the Gabonese championship seniors

Gold medal at the Gabon cadet championship

Bronze medal at the International Tournament of the City of Port-Gentil

At the international level (-55 kg)

2018

Gold medal at the International Tournament of Ouagadougou

2019

Silver medal at the African Junior Championships (Dakar)

2020

Bronze medal at the Dakar African Open

At the international level (-66 kg)

2022

Gold medal at the African Cup cadets-juniors in Niamey

Gold medal at the African Junior Championships (Nairobi)

1 year