ACTUALITE |
21.04.2004
FECAFOOT: Why they Want to Be President
Elections of officials to the executive bureau of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) will take place on Saturday April 24th, 2004 in Yaounde. The bureau members who will be elected into the high sports office will have the privilege of overseeing the activities of the federation for the next four years. Cameroonians will expect those elected to develop local football and reinstate Cameroonian football at the continental and global scene. The development of sports infrastructure is also an obligation. The untimely elimination of the Lions from the recent African Cup of Nations in Tunisia, the bundling out of the Cameroonian Under 23 team, Olympic champions, from the Athens Games next August and the recent sanctions by the world football governing body, FIFA, to the Cameroon Football Federation (fine of CFA 85 million and deduction of six points from their 2006 World Cup and Nation Cup qualifiers that are yet to begin), are enough reasons to conclude that the task ahead is daunting and challenging.
In such circumstances, one could have imagined that the FECAFOOT crown would scare potential candidates; that the seat will be too hot for contenders. Far from it! In effect, football in the country have, over the years, gained mammoth momentum, enough to keep hearts beating and saliva flowing for a long time. The rush to head FECAFOOT in such difficult context can only be considered from the point of view of the fall out. The series of victories recorded in the late 90s and early 2000 have brought in a lot in terms of finance and prestige. This is certainly why the present challenges staring at the new management is not too difficult to frighten candidates. Already, three candidates have declared their intention to run for the post of FECAFOOT president; incumbent Iya Mohammed, former president Vincent Onana and new comer Jean Baptiste Nguini Effa. All the candidates have arguments enough to keep the elctorate conjectoring.
The incumbent, Iya Mohamed says his strength is found in the results he has made so far. After all, he takes credit for the stabilization of the management of FECAFOOT, good relation with the Cameroonian government and for the victories which the national teams have recorded within the last four years. "We obtained the best results of all time. From 2000 to 2004, Cameroon won two African Cup of Nations, One Olympic Gold medal, and a junior African Cup of Nations". While acknowledging the fact that the results have of recent take a nose dive, he nonetheless promised to bring back Cameroonian football toits hey days and finish his unaccomplished projects.
Another person who also has unfinished business with the FECAFOOT is Vincent Onana. The former president says he is presenting his candidature because people want him back. "Cameroonian football is not faring well. I am a football professional. When I was elected in 1996, I carried out actions which many people appreciated. Today, they want me back", he says. Vincent Onana also has his vision of Cameroonian football. "I will modernize the management of Cameroonian football on the administrative and financial point of view, train young people to take over the relay from the old generation and rejuvenate the national team", he explains.
The only newcomer into the scene, although not a nonentity in the sports world, is Jean Baptiste Nguini Effa. "I am the only credible candidate for the federation. The others have shown their limits", he says. To him, what the Cameroon football federation needs today is new blood. "We are moving towards ruins. We have to rebuild our football, develop infrastructure and work in synergy with the international community", he says. His argument is backed by a 12-point plan of action which cuts across all domains of football.
From all indications, all the candidates want to develop Cameroonian football. But who will be able to convince the electorate? The polls would speak on Saturday.
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Hits: 1 | Source:cameroon-tribune.cm | |
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