“I will be president of the Cameroon Football Federation”, a visibly confident Samuel Eto’o Fils told the over 3000 ear piercing crowd that had gathered in front of the FECAFOOT head office in Tsinga, Yaoundé, to watch him submit his candidacy.
A tense and cagey atmosphere had preceded the last Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) presidential elections but Eto’o was self-confident. This self-confidence was boosted by his loyalists, amongst them, Ernest Obama, his long-time ally and spokesperson of his campaign team, who compared the former goal poacher to Jesus Christ in a television debate. In the debate, Obama said, “Samuel Eto’o is to Cameroonian football what Jesus is to the world’s cultures- the saviour of mankind. “To challenge Jesus is blasphemy; to confront Eto’o would be bluster and treason against the nation”, he thought. It is said that when a flame dies down the ashes remain as testimony.
The FECAFOOT elections may have come and gone, but the impact made will remain engraved in the sands of time and in the hearts of many. Eto’o’s triumph over the Incumbent Seidou Mbombo Njoya, the man he once endorsed, did not escape what Arthur Schopenhauer, a German philosopher, once said: “All truth goes through three stages. First of all, it is ridiculed. Then it suffers strong opposition. Then it is considered to have always been evidence”. Prior to the elections, Seidou Mbombo Njoya and Samuel Eto’o Fils lit up the country with two starkly different views.
The FECAFOOT elections were by far the most popular, as millions of Cameroonians took to the traditional and social media to make their voices heard in spite of the fact that only 76 persons were eligible to decide the fate of the four candidates. The chain of events in the build-up to the elections could by far constitute a Hollywood blockbuster (movie) that will leave an indelible mark in the sands of time.
Who could ever believe the outcome of the elections, especially given that majority of the delegates had already sided with Mr Seidou? But the Electoral College decided otherwise, giving Samuel Eto’o Fils the arduous task of delivering Cameroonian football, which has for the past few years suffered severely from the devil’s sick of sin. For this to happen, the 40-year old must keep to his lofty campaign promises, which seduced the delegates who voted for him. Cameroonians now have their eyes firmly fixed on how Eto’o delivers, and a blink of any failed promises will only attract the wrath of the population.
With the elections now bygones, the time to fix is now. A good administration will go a long way to exorcise the ghost that has haunted FECAFOOT for more than one decade, throwing it into a chronic state of dysfunction. A bad leadership will always have its spillover effects on the different segments of our football (amateur and elite championships, the national teams and even the reputation of the country).
Cameroonians yearn for a professional FECAFOOT worthy of its name, a FECAFOOT that will set the precedence for others to emulate. The Eto’o leadership is aware of the task that lies ahead; that of finding the panacea for ailing Cameroonian football and to make the sport great again.
The FECAFOOT boss wants to transcend the intestinal quarrels, the parochial spirit of yesteryears and to silence personal ambitions. Over the years, the amount of money wasted on court cases makes for grim reading, not to talk of the fat budget allocated for frivolous international missions and actions. And oftentimes, these missions are shared amongst friends and close associates.
Eto’o Fils, therefore, has a divine mission to put a definite end to all these. And this, he must do with the last iota of his energy. The outcome of the December 11, 2021 polls clearly indicates that Eto’o Fils has the ability to unite stakeholders and develop Cameroon football.
His international exposure and love for the country are two very important factors that will play to his advantage. As one time captain of the national football team of Cameroon, Eto’o Fils fearlessly defended his team mates and those around him. Under his leadership, football is expected to have a new lease of life.
Eto’o’s Rise from Grass to Grace Eto’o was born in the popular Mvogada neighborhood of Yaoundé, but he grew up in the notorious Newbell neighborhood of Douala where his journey as a footballer took off. It wasn’t to be an easy ride for the young Eto’o , who had to sacrifice his youthful exuberance for hard work and focus.
In his prime, Eto’o was regarded by pundits as one of the best strikers in the world, and he is regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time, having won the African Player of the Year four times: 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010. Eto’o was part of the squads that won the 2000 and 2002 Africa Cup of Nations, and was a gold medalist at the 2000 Summer Olympics, in Sydney & Italy.
From Douala-based Kadji Sports Academy to Spanish giants, Real Madrid, passing through Real Marlloca to Barcelona, Inter Milan, Anzhi Makhachkala, Chelsea, Everton, Sampdoria, Antalyaspor, Konyaspor and then Qatar SC, Eto’o has left his mark; he continues to be remembered as one of soccer’s deadliest strikers in the 21st century.
He now has the opportunity to prove to detractors that a good footballer could as well be a good football administrator. The time for campaign promises is over and footballers -who are the key actors, must begin to feel the impact of his manifesto, which has a commendable roadmap for the rejuvenation of Cameroon football.
FECAFOOT, was founded in 1959. It got affiliated to CAF in 1963 and FIFA in 1962.
