BY KUNLE SOLAJA. 

Disagreement between the ministry of sports in Cameroon and the leadership of the football federation of Cameroon (FECAFOOT) may have been the cause of the impasse currently going on in that country.

As the clock ticks down to Cameroon’s World Cup qualifying matches with Cape Verde and Angola, the team currently parade two head coaches.

On one hand is Belgium’s Marc Brys who is appointed by the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education. His appointment does not go down well with FECAFOOT led by Samuel Eto’o Fils.

On the other hand is Martin Ndtoungou who on Tuesday was named the new coach by Eto’o. In a press statement, FECAFOOT  chronicled what were seen as infractions on the part of Brys.

First was his refusal to attend an earlier meeting slated for 10 May and initiated by the Secretary General of FECAFOOT.

Another offence was the Belgian release of players’ list for upcoming matches and holding a press conference in violation of FECAFOOT procedures. He was also accused of not communicating training schedules and taking isolated work initiatives as well as disclosing information of players to third parties and media without FECAFOOT’s approval.

Eto’o also accused the Belgian of not communicating the final list of players within the allocated time.

Press statement issue by FECAFOOT

Those appear the remote causes of the crisis which peaked following a botched meeting of the Belgian and the FECAFOOT officials on Tuesday.

A technical adviser to the Cameroon Ministry of Sports and Physical Education, Cyrille Tollo who demanded for the agenda of the meeting was fired out on the orders of Eto’o.

He was suspected to be carrying out instructions from the sports minister.  When Tollo was asked to leave the meeting, the Belgian coach opted to also leave.

There and then the hot exchanges ensued.

Samuel Eto’o: “Please stay so we can work. If you leave, you won’t come back.”

Marc Brys: “Why are you talking like that!?”

Samuel Eto’o: “I am president here.”

Marc Brys: “I’m a coach here.”

Samuel Eto’o: “You are a coach because I appointed you. I ask you to stay in this meeting. Because if you do not stay, I am obliged to question my Executive Committee.”

Marc Brys: “It’s me who decides.”

Samuel Eto’o: “You don’t decide. What you do, I take responsibility. In your country, you can’t do that. And you don’t talk to me like that. As a footballer, you can’t never talk to me. Stay, we’re working. Which country do you think I can do this in?

Marc Brys: “No!”

Samuel Eto’o: “How can you do that in Cameroon? I was a coach.”

Marc Brys: “For 3 weeks.”

Samuel Eto’o: “I was a very great player.”

Marc Brys: “I’m leaving.”

Samuel Eto’o: “If you leave, don’t come back.”

A source in Cameroon informed Sports Village Square that Eto’o may have shut himself in the hips as he is seen to be heading into confrontation with the government.

  It is gathered that that the minister in charge of internal affairs has instructed council heads not to permit any meeting of FECAFOOT.

  It is further gathered that the government was in the process of auditing the FECAFOOT accounts owing to fund disbursed but not accounted for.

  It is gathered that prior to Qatar 2022 World Cup, FECAFOOT collected 2.5 billion cfa which is about $4,142,675. The money which was to be refunded at the end of December 2022 has not been repaid.