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Cameroon's Legless Professional Golfer'¯Aims for Paralympic Gold

Anne Nzouankeu

   YAOUNDÃ - When Cameroonian golf champion Issa'¯Nlareb'¯Amang'¯lost his
   legs and most of his fingers to meningitis in'¯2018,'¯many'¯thought his
   life in the sport was over.'¯'¯But, thanks to'¯donors,'¯he was able to
   get'¯prosthetics'¯that'¯allowed'¯him to return to the game
   and'¯become'¯the only disabled'¯professional'¯golfer in West
   Africa.'¯'¯

   '¯As a child,'¯Issa'¯Nlareb'¯Amang, now 30, '¯liked'¯to
   play'¯at'¯his'¯neighborhood golf course.'¯'¯'¯'¯

   He'¯quickly'¯went from being'¯a'¯ball
   boy'¯to'¯a'¯caddy,'¯and'¯then'¯from playing golf to
   becoming'¯a'¯champion'¯of'¯Cameroon'¯and West Africa.'¯'¯

   Amang was the first African to gain entry to the'¯ALPS Tour, a
   non-profit by Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland to improve young
   golf professionals' tournament skills.

   But'¯during a'¯2018'¯tournament in Egypt,'¯Amang'¯caught'¯meningitis,
   an inflammation of brain and spinal cord membranes.

   He went into'¯a coma and, suffering from'¯septic shock, had to have
   most of his fingers and both legs amputated.'¯'¯'¯

   Despite the traumatic loss, Amang says he'¯has never given up. He says
   it was very complicated to have prosthetics and to be standing, he
   says. But it was possible because people put their hands together, says
   Amang, they have contributed.'¯

   Amang got'¯prosthetic'¯limbs'¯thanks to golf federations
   and'¯other'¯donors and was able to'¯get'¯back'¯on the golf
   course.'¯'¯'¯

   Pharmacist Aude'¯Bahounoui, one of'¯Amang's'¯donors,says'¯that when
   Amang was sick, she had her doubts.'¯'¯But as the golfer was abroad, he
   was sending photos to her, showing his training. She says little by
   little she became confident that Amang was going to make it
   through.'¯'¯

   Amang'¯did recover and'¯became the only disabled'¯professional'¯golfer
   in West Africa.'¯'¯'¯

   He says'¯what he is feeling -- he can't say it's a feeling -- it's a
   life he is taking back.'¯'¯Playing golf is the sport of his life, and
   the feeling floods him because he has no way out,except to play golf,
   he explains.'¯

   Amang's'¯willpower'¯to keep playing'¯was'¯lauded'¯by'¯Cameroon's main
   disabled association,'¯Handi'¯Plus.'¯'¯

   But'¯the group'¯says more'¯state'¯support'¯is'¯needed
   for'¯all'¯those'¯with reduced mobility'¯-- many of whom'¯are forced
   to'¯live behind closed doors'¯due to'¯lack of'¯help'¯and
   stigma.'¯'¯'¯'¯

   Honoré'¯Essengué, thepresident of Handi'¯Plus, saysAmang was
   fortunate to receive solidarity from his friends.'¯'¯Those who have no
   friends, what are they going to do? At some point,Essengue
   says,the'¯state will have to take responsibility for the
   disabled.'¯'¯'¯

   As for'¯Amang, he'¯is'¯training'¯for upcoming competitions'¯with the
   aim of winning Cameroon'¯a'¯gold'¯medal at the next Paralympic Games.'¯

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