Football Management

Biya grants FECAFOOT more powers
A Presidential decree signed on September 26, 2014, modifying the provisions of the Presidential decree of October 31, 1972, on the running of the Cameroon Football Association, FECAFOOT, has granted the country’s FA some powers to manage its own activities.
    Although football lovers were happy with the development, the Government still has some role to play in the FA which might, as well, still hinder the FA’s smooth functioning.
    According to the decree, the financial management of the selections will be jointly carried out by Government and FECAFOOT, according to conditions to be elaborated by a special convention and statutes yet to be enunciated by both institutions.

    Issues like the one between the Minister of Sports, Adoum Garoua, and the Normalisation Committee Chairman, Joseph Owona, that occured in Brazil, where Owona was alleged to have chased Garoua and others out of the FECAFOOT hotel, might still arise.
    For example, in the domain of finance, which has stirred so many problems between the Government and FECAFOOT, the FA will still receive some subventions from the Ministry to pay players’ bonuses. This might still make the FA to bow to the Ministry to see that these subventions are given.
    Also, the fact that the amount to be paid as bonuses to players shall be proposed by FECAFOOT and endorsed by the Ministry of Sports is still a major problem. Here still, it will hinder the smooth functioning of the FA as it might cause conflict as to whether the proposal should be endorsed or not.

Regional balance ignored
    The President did not touch on the problem of Regional balance which has been the cry of Anglophones. English-speaking Cameroonians are not satisfied as nothing was mentioned about Regional balance. They were recently robbed of the role of the assistant captain during the recent appointments of captains into the national team. Also, they still continue to be marginalised in all the various categories of the national team as the number of Anglophones in any category of the national team has never exceeded two.
    However, there were some points of benefit to FECAFOOT.

Payment of bonuses
    Much was done to see that the bonus payment problem that has destroyed the team is laid to rest. It was stated that a clear deadline be established and a fixed amount agreed upon, before the beginning of competitions. Also, it was stipulated that bonuses shall be agreed 15 days before a friendly match, one month before a qualifier match, two months before official matches, three months before the Africa Cup of Nations or Olympic Games and six months before the final phase of the World Cup.
    If this is respected, problems like the last minute bonus scandals that the team has been notorious of, will be avoided and will also keep their spirit high.

Home-based players protected
    In relation to the recruitment of players in the various categories for the national team, the Under-15 and Under-17 categories shall be entirely made up of home-based players, while the Under -20 squad will be given the lion’s share of 70 percent to home-based players.
    Cameroonians will now be hoping to see that the various articles in the decree do not remain on paper but put into practice.