ACTUALITE |
05.01.2002
Highlights of 2001 : Cameroon soccer stays on top
Though there were some hitches, Cameroon soccer achieved most of its objectives during the year 2001. The national soccer team, the Indomitable Lions qualified for the 2002 World Cup. While for the first time in over ten years two clubs reached the semi-finals of continental competitions.
With a rapid succession of coaches at the head of the Indomitable Lions, the World Cup qualifying campaign suffered a major set back when Angloa beat them 2-0 in Luanda in May. Youth and sports minister, Bidoung Mpkatt realised his error and hurriedly pushed Jean Paul Akono to resign. And Pierre Lechantre returned to the job.
But it was too late for the Lions to concentrate on the Confederation Cup that May. Lechantre led them to disaster, as they lost two games to Brazil and Japan before edging Canada 2-0.
Lechantre was definitely sacked. Fortunately, the mismanagement of coaches did not temper with the zeal of the squad to reach the 2002 World Cup. To end the coaching crisis, Winfred Schafer was recruited in September. His first test is CAN 2002.
Albeit the poor management of the domestic season, Coton Sport Garoua and Kumbo strikers recorded a successful international campaign. Kumbo provided the surprise when they reached the semi-finals of the Cup Winners’ Cup before losing to Inter Clube Luanda. Though little more was expected of Coton Sport,
their qualification for the CAF Cup semi-finals was acceptable. Etoile Sahel Tunis eliminated them 3-2 on aggregate.
The real dark side of Cameroon soccer that happened on the pitch concerned the U-17 and U-20 national teams. All got eliminated in the first round of the African Cup of Nations finals in Seychelles and Ethiopia respectively.
At home, Coton Sport took their fourth national title since 1993 while Victoria United (Opopo) and Bamboutos Mbonda returned to division one after passing the Interpools 2001 promotion test. ASMY I Yaounde came in with them too, to replace Olympic Mvolye, Dynamo Douala and Girondins Ngaoundere.
On the management side, FECAFOOT signed four major sponsorship deals with PMUC, PUMA, Sport Plus and ICM sport since February 2001 which annually bring in above 500 million FCFA to support Cameroon soccer. 45 percent of the money goes to the ministry of youth and sports following a “non-aggression” pact
FECAFOOT and the ministry signed. Thanks to other smoothing clauses the convention greatly maintained the peace between both bodies. Though fans remain lost on the issue of giving sponsorship money to the government.
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Hits: 1 | Source:The Herald | |
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