ACTUALITE |
21.02.2006
Cameroon date foiled... but Boyz confirm US match
Observer Reporter
Protracted negotiations between the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and its Cameroon counterparts have denied Jamaicans of the chance to view the three-time African Player of the Year Samuel Eto`o and his compatriots oppose the Reggae Boyz in a friendly international at the National Stadium on Wednesday, March 1.
Wednesday, March 1 is the first official FIFA date for international friendlies for this year.
But while the Cameroon game fell through at the 11th hour after months of negotiations, the JFF has secured friendly internationals with the FIFA number seventh ranked USA on April 11 in North Carolina, USA, and another with a team ranked just outside the FIFA top-10, also in the US in May.
At a function to honour Jamaica`s Under-20 Reggae Girlz last evening, JFF president Crenston Boxhill confirmed the date against the US. He also said that his association is in negotiations with "a high-ranking African" team for a game in Jamaica in May, as part of the preparations for the June 3 fixture against England.
The Observer has learnt that the chance to host Cameroon vanished last Friday when the agent acting on both teams` behalf, after guaranteeing the appearance of the Barcelona star striker Eto`o, requested that an immediate deposit of US$100,000 be wired to the Cameroon Football Federation`s account by day`s end.
However, the JFF and one of its corporate sponsors, whom it had approached to help finance the international friendly, could not secure the deposit at such short notice. In addition, it is understood that the corporate body cited insufficient time to maximise the marketing opportunities of the game.
The JFF and its Cameroon counterparts have been in negotiations for the game since early last December, with one of the stipulations from the JFF being that star striker Eto`o participate in the game, the Observer learnt.
Cameroon are ranked 23rd on the FIFA list and apart from Eto`o, they also have star players such as captain and defender Rigobert Song and midfielder Geremi among their ranks.
The Reggae Boyz have not played an international friendly at home in many months, and the game against the African powerhouse on March 1 would have been a big boost for the local federation.
The Boyz last played a friendly international in October when they crashed 5-0 to Australia in England. Australia subsequently qualified for the World Cup Finals in Germany after edging two-time winners Uruguay in a play-off.
The England friendly was originally set for the new Wembley Stadium. However, it is uncertain whether Wembley will be reopened in time for the game. The alternative venue is Manchester United`s Old Trafford Stadium.
jamaicaobserver.com
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