Football: Could that Milla interview affect the Lions?

Originally posted on Gef's Football Club

There are many who have said Roger Milla should confine his speaking to the football field.

Such observers have had much to chew since Camfoot.com published a long interview in which Milla says Samuel Eto’o’s indiscipline was the cause of Cameroon’s lacklustre performances before Paul Leguen was named head-coach and that Rigobert Song, Geremi Njitap, Samuel Eto’o and himself picked the players at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana and not the then manager Otto Pfister.

There were rumours that the senior members of the squad -Rigobert Song, Geremi Njitap, Idriss kameni and Samuel Eto’o – had such a strangle-hold on the team that they imposed their choices on the managers. Fans had even come up with a name for them “1984″ based on their jersey numbers.

Why did Milla choose to make his “revelations” now? Why didn’t he say these things when the boat was hitting the rocks? Why did the honorary chairman of the Cameroon football Federation choose to speak out when dsicipline seems to have returned to the den of the 4 times champions of Africa?

The man who scored 4 goals at the Fifa World Cup in 1990 says that “Cameroonians want to hear the truth.”

“If one has something that needs to be said to improve the workings of the team, it must be said. It is for the good of the national team of Cameroon and not for Roger Milla’s [glory]. If we want to succeed we must be honest with ourselves,” Milla said.

Would you describe Milla’s comments as a mis-timed rant barely days to the crucial World Cup qualifier against Morocco in Fès on 14 November? Is it really the case of an envious old man begging for recognition or the wise words of caution from a legend who can see further than the boys who have climbed up a tree?

Be a judge for yourself by reading interesting excerpts of that interview translated to English.

Continue reading could that Milla interview affect the lions

Comments

[Paa Ngembus]

BUEA IS BURNING AND SOUTHERN CAMEROONS UNDER ATTACK

Fellow Southern Cameroonian

The Southern Cameroons intelligence Bureau headquarters can confirm that Buea is burning as southern Cameroonians gathered at the Molyko statuim to attend a rally and Press Conference organized by the RG, SCAPO and SCNC to sensitize Southern Cameroonians on the Banjul Verdict after the lies told by LRC’s minister of communication Isa Tchiroma.

Our sources confirmed that about 4500 Southern Cameroonians had been barricaded in the stadium by combine forces of police, gendarmes and the military. Military helicopters are flying over the stadium as trucks of soldiers are being ferried to Buea from Man-o-war bay, Tiko, Douala and Baffoussam. Even after authorizing the rally, the SDO for Buea was forced to call in the forces of repression after receiving orders from his bosses in Yaounde. As we write, teargas is being used all over the stadium and its neighborhood.

Southern Cameroons leaders present at the Molyko stadium includes, the SCNC National Chairman, HRH Chief Ayamba, SCNC Deputy Secretary General Mr Arrey Besong, Martin Fon Yembe, LDA president; Mola Njoh Litumbe, Barristers Bobga, Ajong Stanislus etc etc,

National and International press were also present.

We’ll bring you more update as this story develops.

If you’ll need to get additional information from Buea, use the contacts below:

Martin Fon Yembe Tel: +23797039491

Simon Ful Ngwa Tel: +23777038127/ 99140238

B. Mathis Arrey Tel: +23777132752

Akongoh Innocent Ngwa Tel: +23799469879

Fondoh Cletus Tel: +23777852178

Elad Simon Tel: +23733322490

SCYL Information Bureau

[Paa Ngembus]

GUYS,

IGNORE MR. MENDOUGA MAPOUKA DIPOKO FOR NOW.

WE WILL GET BACK TO HIS NONSENSE LATER.

LA REPUBLIQUE IS RAINING FIRE ON US AND WE WILL RESPOND.

A+

[Adolf A Agbormbai]

Roger Milla is a Cameroonian legend. After Pele there is no footballer who played the game like Milla. None had the brains or vision of Milla. He was pure footballing genius.

As a man of this footballing importance he has the right to say whatever he wants to say, and his views MUST BE RESPECTED even if you don't agree with them.

Samuel Eto'o may be making tons of money but this would not have been possible without the sacrifices of such Cameroonian greats as Milla and his team mates of the 1982 World Cup.

If those players were playing today they would be making as much money as Eto'o, and Milla would be making at least twice the earnings of Eto'o.

Eto'o is a talented player and deserves every bit of what he's getting. He's earning it well and he is generous too. I like the way he uses his money to motivate his team mates. He could be a talented manager in the making. He has good brains off-pitch and he's also proving to be a great captain.

However, Eto'o still has a great deal to learn to reach the magical footballing heights of the likes of Milla.

Milla is the sort of guy who when he was on the pitch you just felt happy and you knew Cameroon was going to get results.

You knew you were in for a footballing feast. I particularly love watching brilliant players on the pitch. Football is not just about pace. It's about BRAINS, VISION, POSITIONING, and READING THE GAME DYNAMICS as it flows so that you can take advantage of it. Milla had it all!

[Adolf A Agbormbai]

The timing of Milla's comments is right. You make critical comments of this nature after you've got results not when you are still trying to get them.