Dibussi Tande (Originally published on Scribbles from the Den)
A million reasons have been given to explain why Cameroon, supposedly one of the greatest football nations in the world, ended up sharing the last spot at the 2010 World Cup with - Oh! The humiliation! - North Korea. While conflicts within the national team and poor coaching may explain Cameroon's South African debacle, the problem with the country's football is systemic and structural. Take a hard look at the following pictures; these are some of the stadiums where games for the MTN Elite One league (Cameroon's premier football championship) are played each week.
Cotonsport, Cameroon's Elite One Champions, playing at the Bamendzin "Stadium" in Bafoussam, homeground of Racing Bafoussam FC
Exactly what kind of talent do we expect to emerge from these potato fields? Isn't it time for Cameroon to go back to the basics - developing a coherent national football policy, establishing a credible youth prospection and development program, professionalizing the elite league, training local coaches in modern techniques and tactics, building stadiums that meet minimum FIFA standards, etc. - before aspiring to conquer the the African and world stage? There can be no cutting corners on this one!
Click here to view more pictures of the pitches on which Cameroon's top clubs play
Those pitches are in a pitiable state, but the issue is not as simple as it looks. The government should provide infrastructure for national use, but it is up to football clubs to improve their own facilities.
In my opinion the product reflects the market. How much are you willing to pay to watch a football game in Cameroon? What is the average attendance? Would a sane investor invest in a local football club? Are sponsors interested? How do you get TV stations to invest, when we are all busy watching foreign leagues? Professional football feeds on fans, benefactors, sponsorship and TV rights. For the time being this paradime cannot apply to the Cameroonian context, as the product is not marketable enough.
Municipalities could engage some form of private finance initiatives, whereby infrastruture is leased to clubs to develop and exploit, in return for royalties. Even in developed countries, some essential facilities (hospitals) are operated this way.
Posted by: limbekid | Tuesday, 06 July 2010 at 11:12 AM
im impress so much dood playing they have no cheating thats is spot playing
Posted by: Medical Advice | Tuesday, 06 July 2010 at 01:30 PM
You talking trash and posting garbage.
Your twisted blame the victim argumnet makes no sense.
The root cause of the problem is Paul Biyaism, and u know that.
The Politcal Climate does not permit any of your argument.
You always try to protect the butcher of etoudi. What's up with that? Are u slow or just outwright dumb.
Posted by: njimaforboy | Tuesday, 06 July 2010 at 01:38 PM
Potato fields indeed !
Paul Biya and his Gang of Robbers find nothing wrong with those Potato fields. All they care is stealing and raping the Constitution.
A Country whose Policy on Infrastructural Development solely depends on the Chinese and MTN or PMUC. If the Chinese or MTN doesn't built who will build ?
Cameroons problems are just Paul Biya and CPDM period.
Posted by: Chief Ayuk Arrey | Tuesday, 06 July 2010 at 03:41 PM
How can we progress when paul Biya has chosen poverty for his country .we still have a very long way to go.even angola ,mozambique,g.equatoria,mali can boast of modern infrastructures.we don't need to blame some of our footballers of their aging talents
,this is one of the causes.
Posted by: annemarie | Wednesday, 07 July 2010 at 10:42 AM
Does CRTV carry these matches live? I bet the regime may be too ashamed to show foreign visitors these Cameroonians pitches.
Posted by: Ngum Anthony | Thursday, 08 July 2010 at 12:17 PM
We worry about little things. Paul Biya's regime. You and I know this country called La Republique will never get better.So why are we still bother our selves about this. My people see the best thing for us right now is independence. 50 years of so called freedom. Please some one tell me what can we tell the people of the world we have accomplished. Its time for a new entity to be born. Let Ambazonia live forever.
Posted by: Unknown | Friday, 09 July 2010 at 12:10 AM
Ambazonia was never born.
Posted by: Haha | Friday, 09 July 2010 at 06:02 PM
Ambazonia baby is healthy and thriving, u baby killer.
Trust me, he will be independent way before his teenage years.
Posted by: njimaforboy | Tuesday, 13 July 2010 at 01:46 PM
According to my analysis, millions of persons on our planet receive the credit loans from good creditors. Therefore, there's a good chance to find a short term loan in all countries.
Posted by: PalmerESMERALDA32 | Tuesday, 01 November 2011 at 02:44 PM
According to my analysis, millions of persons on our planet receive the credit loans from good creditors. Therefore, there's a good chance to find a short term loan in all countries.
Posted by: PalmerESMERALDA32 | Tuesday, 01 November 2011 at 02:45 PM
Those who argue that Cameroon has nothing to learn from the world beyond our borders can now see for themselves the harm they do to the nation's image. It is not only in football; everything we do, our great apologists play ostrich when it comes to competition and comparing with the standards elsewhere - education, politicss, business, road infrastructure, sports. Football is only hurting because we had seen and known better days compared to what we see these days.
But we know where the interest lies and where our money is spent, don't we? If so many billions of our currency is dished out to the First Lady's famous foundation and chest for playing Santa Claus (Mother Christmas), does it surprise anyone that we cannot maintain a stadium worth writing home about or keep players of talent?
Posted by: J. S. Dinga | Tuesday, 01 November 2011 at 11:41 PM