TRIBUTES
TO UNCLE ZACH
An Icon has
bowed down, a hero has crossed the river, a legend has embarked on the journey
of no return, a celebrity has blossom then withered.
As news of Uncle
Zach’s demise echoed all over, tears dropped down my cheek. My eyes went red
and my heart got sour. Immediately I began
to recall his days of professionalism and simple life. Uncle Zack gave shape to
the world journalism in Cameroon, he knew when the studio microphone sounded
best, he had a mastery of the
dimension of the studio and the atmosphere of his
reports. He was never a play journalist. He was a mentor to so many emerging and
emerged journalists and sport reporters to be specific. He was a journalist to
the core. I remember in 2003 when I first met Uncle Zach. He had just covered a
first division Match at the Molyko Omnisport Stadium. I was returning home from
school with four of my peers while he settled on a bottle of liquor in bar
opposite the Stadium. He called us to advise us on the relevance of education and
how the future belongs to us. His close 10 minutes lecture ended with gift of 100
FRS each to my friends and I. Since then, I have worked hard to hold firm that
future and meet up with Uncle Zack’s words of wisdom. In 2009 I met him again
at CRTV while on a holyday programme and he remained inspiring. Each morning since
2003 I tuned in to FM 94.5 to listen to him, I went to the stadium on each
Mount Cameroon Race of hope just to see him and hear his legendary voice. He alone best knew how
pregnant the moon and the sun were on a mountain raise day; he could perfectly
describe the scenario and gave the public a swift summary of past races and
winners. Uncle knew dates like his legend Historian Professor Victor Ngoh. He
was a man who once told a sports Minister how late he was for an event in a
very stylish way. Zachary Nkwo was a living encyclopedia, a sport archive and an
unforgettable genius. He spoke slowly but powerfully, he never needed scripts,
he just needed a microphone and wisdom flowed. He was difficult to see on occasions
because of his size but he was always heard because his voice spoke volumes and
penetrated right deep into the ears of listeners and the public. Uncle Zach has
left a big vacuum in the world of sport. A sport archive has collapsed. Testimonies
of his impact fly everywhere today. So sad he had to bow down to the wind of
death that blew so hard. I am saddened by news of his everlasting journey to
the world beyond. Rest in Peace Uncle Zach.
NTUI OBEN OBI