ACTUALITE |
20.11.2001
Youth and sports minister indicted for neglecting cycling federation
Bidoung Mkpatt, youth and sports minister has come under indictment for abandoning the Cameroon cycling federation (FCC) and other sport federations.
He has also been blamed for banking only on FECAFOOT and turning to any other discipline only when victory has been recorded. The indictment on Bidoung emerged during a press briefing by Claude Bernard Messy, national president of the Cameroon cycling federation on 14 November at the federation`s head office in Yaounde. The press briefing followed the return to the country of the Indomitable Lions, cycling version from the 15th edition of the international cycling competition in Burkina Faso that held from 31 October to 11 November. According to Messy, the six Cameroonian cyclists involved in the race put up a mediocre performance which he attributed to ill-preparedness and lack of motivation. He disclosed that with request from MINJES, his federation had prepared and deposited a budget for the Burkina trip last February but unfortunately, the minister only reacted to the said budget in October on the eve of the delegation`s departure.
Messy said not only was Bidoung`s reaction late but what was granted as budget was insufficient. The Herald gathered that it was thanks to first lady, Chantal Biya that the federation procured bicycles for the cyclists to use at the competition. These came at the nick of time and they used only six days to train with them before departure. Messy wondered if MINJES did not have a budget for cycling and other federations except football. The FCC boss described as senseless the minister`s decision to dispatch a special plane to pick up the national volleyball team and to organise a sumptuous feast for them only after their brilliant performance in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, recently. To him the decision was a mark of waste and
hypocrisy since the team travelled to Nigeria by boat which was considered risky.
While expressing regret that his predecessor bequeathed nothing to him, Messy was however optimistic that the future of cycling in the country remained bright. Regarding the Burkina tournament, Messy said 16 clubs took part in the competition and Cameroon emerged 8th on general club classification. But on individual classification, he added that one of the cyclists, Tega Martinien who, together with Ngopang Simon received several medals, emerged 14th out of 48 cyclists in the competition. Cameroon also returned with a trophy for participation during which all six Cameroonian cyclists reached the finish. Messy and the cyclists were accompanied to Burkina by Fabien Ateba Koungou, FCC assistant secretary general, Ayissi Alain, national trainer, Menyeng Louis, medical doctor, amongst other officials.
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Hits: 1 | Source:The Herald | |
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