When Samuel Eto’o won the election to become president of the Cameroon soccer federation, he jumped from his chair and punched the air like he might have done after scoring a goal at the height of a playing career that put him among the best strikers in the world. (More Football News)
But that celebration in December marked just the start for Eto’o, who has set himself the daunting task of rebuilding a🦩 broken domestic soccer structure in his Central African homꦜe country.
Cameroon’s national team is one of Africa’s most successful with five continental titles; Eto’o was on the team for two of them. Cameroon seized the world’s attention with a memorable run to the quarterfinals of the 1990 World Cup, ﷽led by charismatic striker Roger Milla. Many took notice of African soccer after that and Cameroon has gone on to play at seven World Cups, more than any other African nation.
Yet at home, the last decade has been deeply difficult. The national league has been bedeviled by interference from the government, allegations of corruption and unkept promises from soccer leaders. The league has been regula🍬rly disrupted, sponsors have deserted it — taking their money with them — and players have lost faith.
“I can’t list the number of players who have left football to do other jobs because they benefit nothing (from playing),” said Che Malone,🐟 a defender with Coton Sport, Cameroon’s national chaᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚmpion.
Malone said many players in Cam🍰eroon “play for free or almost free” as some teams aren’t always able to pay their salaries.
Enter Eto’o.
It was a surprise when the former Barcelona a🍨nd Inter Milan striker announced he was standing as a candidate to lead the troubled Cameroon federation. It was a shock when he won.
Eto’o promised to fight c🦂orruption, promote women’s soccer, improve stadiums and other infrastructure, get fans b🍰ack at games and — maybe his key promise — improve the lives of players.
“It’s imperaﷺtive to look beyond selfish interests in order to revive our local championships,” Et💦o’o said.
He also stated he had a🅠 mission “to rekindle the winning spirit within our national teams” and there were early signs of that when Cameroon impressed and excited on th𒁏e way to third place at the African Cup of Nations it hosted in January and February.
Turning aro🐷und the domestic game won’t be nearly so easy, or immediate.
But the 41-year-old Eto’o has made a start, establishing a minimum wage for players in the top two tiers and enforcing rules requi🌱ring club o🧸wners to show proof they have enough money to pay their players and staff.
He has also negotiated a deal to see the return of league sponsor MTN, a multinational telecommunications comp🌞any, and has promised to build 10 stadiums in answer to players’🌌 pleas for better settings to ply their trade. Some lower-tier games go ahead on fields that have more bare earth than grass.
Cameroon’s top tier 🧜is also back up aꦑnd running again having kicked off on March 16.
There’s a long road ahead, but Eto’o “has ignited hope in us,” said Frank Abianda, a striker with top-tier club AS Fortuna. “At one moment the future🙈 seemed very dark.”
tball Team, Samuel Eto, Football World Cup, Roger M꧙illa, Che Malone, Af🥃rican Cup Of Nations, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Football News
