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If one of Samuel Eto’o’s objectives was to restore international visibility to Cameroonian football, the president of Fecafoot, the national federation, can consider that the contract is largely fulfilled. Since his election for four years, on December 11, 2021, the former international and striker of the Indomitable Lions has not lost an opportunity to be talked about for good or bad and, by extension, the body he directed.
” That was to be expected. Eto’o was one of the best players in the world, he played in big clubs [FC Barcelone, Inter Milan, Chelsea…], he is a strong personality, very media-friendly. Everything he says and does takes on proportions that would not have been the same if Fecafoot were chaired by someone else., believes Claude Jabéa Bekombo, coordinator of the Center for Research on Sport in Africa, in Yaoundé. Since taking office, the former striker has indeed multiplied spectacular and increasingly contested decisions.
A few months before the World Cup in Qatar, which will take place in November and December, he unilaterally broke the contract which had linked his federation since 2019 with the French equipment manufacturer Le Coq Sportif. “He decided that on his own, no member of the executive committee has ever had access to the contract”, says someone close to the body. The French company has decided to take Fecafoot to court. An approach that could be expensive for the Cameroonian state, since the federation depends financially on it.
Memorable soap
The taxpayer will also have to put his hand in his pocket to assume another decision of Samuel Eto’o: the dismissal of the Portuguese coach Toni Conceiçao, after the last African Cup of Nations (CAN). The coach, however supported by Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, the Minister of Sports – who has terrible relations with Samuel Eto’o -, has been replaced by the former Cameroonian international Rigobert Song. FIFA agreed with Conceiçao, who seized her after her dismissal, by ordering Cameroon to pay her nearly 1.5 million euros in compensation.
The president of Fecafoot also dismissed, without giving any reason, Bill Tchato, another former Lion. The coordinator of national selections had been the helpless witness of a memorable soap that Samuel Eto’o passed on to the players of the national team after their victory in June against Burundi in the qualifications for CAN 2023, which will be played in January. 2024 in Ivory Coast. The former international had deemed their performance insufficient despite the result. The locker room incident was conveniently filmed by a camera and quickly published on social networks.
” This shocked Cameroonians. The coach did not say a word, it was surreal. That Eto’o yells at the players, okay, but that he doesn’t broadcast the video! Me, like others, I think that Samuel appointed Song, who has a very poor coaching CV, to have a lot of control over the selection, which Conceiçao would not have accepted”, says a former player.
Journalist Jean-Bruno Tagne, who was candidate Eto’o’s campaign manager before distancing himself from the new president, nevertheless points to certain successes. ” Samuel knows football very well, he is an intelligent man, he has good ideas, and there are positive points in his first months at the head of Fecafoot. » The replacement of Conceiçao by Song in February was followed, four weeks later, by a qualification for the World Cup against Algeria (0-1, 2-1). A performance that will bring in at least 8 million euros to the federation by virtue of the bonuses paid by FIFA to qualified selections.
At the national level, the former FC Barcelona striker had undertaken to revitalize domestic competitions. He achieved this, ensuring the smooth running of the championship and the Cameroon Cup. ” He has always defended the players, and ensured that their wages are paid to them on time, and he does not hesitate to hustle the leaders of the clubs, who are not used to this. abounds Claude Jabéa Bekombo. This helped make him even more popular with Cameroonian professional footballers, who had adored the player and now praise the leader.
“Very personal” management
” But, if there is indeed some good in his balance sheet, I am generally disappointed, tempers Jean-Bruno Tagne. The problem is that Fecafoot gives the impression of being managed in a very personal way, and without always having a guideline.. His detractors attack him in particular on this point, pointing out that he has not attracted new big sponsors, as he had said during his campaign. At this rate, one wonders if he will last until the end of his term. »
Within the executive committee of the federation, even if the majority of the members is officially acquired, Samuel Eto’o must now face the revolt of Guibai Gatama, the president of the amateur club of Mokola FC. He believes that the president of the federation is no longer legitimate to lead the body.
” In June, he was sentenced by the Spanish courts to 22 months in prison in connection with a tax evasion case.. However, article 36 of our statutes recalls that a candidate is ineligible from the moment he has been sentenced to a final custodial sentence, accompanied by a simple suspended sentence or with probation for more than six months. So, I ask for nothing other than the application and respect of the texts, and as such, the federation no longer has a legal president”, says Guibai Gatama. But Samuel Eto’o, who has reached an agreement with the Spanish courts, will not go to prison.
No matter, Guibai Gatama also criticizes the boss of the federation for making appointments or dismissals ” as he wishes, without always respecting the statutes”. A source close to the executive committee assures “that other members think like Gatama, but dare not say so “. In May, Benjamin Banlock, the secretary general of Fecafoot, resigned, denouncing ” management “.