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WHEN they write the definitive textbook on how
to be successful in soccer, there will be no guiding lessons offered by
Cameroon. That is because the country long discarded the traditional recipe
for achievement, yet have just been named as the best African side of
the past century.
On top of that, the Indomitable Lions have been to more World Cup finals
than any other African country (save for Morocco, who have also made four
appearances) and still boast the best performance at the finals, reaching
the last eight at Italia 90.
Last year, they won a third African Nations Cup
title, earning the right to keep the trophy for ever. This year, they
are already streets ahead of the opposing teams in their World Cup qualifying
group, heading easily, it would seem, for Japan and South Korea next year.
It has been an extraordinary run by the Lions, and against all the odds,
for behind the charismatic performances on the pitch has been a history
of folly in the administrative department.
To start with, Yaounde's Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium boasts one of the worst
pitches in Africa, and other facilities around the country are in a state
of utter disrepair.
The federation has been a bordello of chaos, with five presidents over
the past decade Ð one of them jailed for pocketing the takings from
World Cup ticket sales and others accused of lining their own pockets
with gate proceeds.
Government influence remains powerful as revenue to finance the national
teams comes from state coffers. The latest Sports Minister, Pierre Bidoung
Mkappt, made the bizarre decision to replace coach Pierre Lechantre with
Jean-Paul Akono late last year, after Akono had won Olympic gold with
the Under-23 side in Sydney.
Lechantre's last four matches in charge had all been 3-0 wins in the World
Cup qualifiers and this time last year he was leading the side to their
first Nations Cup title in 12 years.
Coaches have come and gone with alarming regularity. Just before the last
World Cup finals, Frenchman Claude Le Roy was hauled in to try to salvage
the side; at the 1990 World Cup finals unknown Russian Valeri Nepomniachi
could not communicate with his side because he spoke neither English nor
French.
Yet Cameroon have put African soccer on the international map by producing
some fabulous football, inspired foremost by a player who should have
been on a pension when they enjoyed their biggest moment.
Roger Milla is the most famous son of Cameroonian football and became
a hero at Italia 90 at the age of 38. Four years later he was back, becoming
the oldest performer at a World Cup finals and scoring against Russia
in Detroit.
Milla and his contemporaries, such as Theophile Abega, Thomas Nkono, Gregoire
Mbida and Jean-Manga Onguene, later to be national coach, started the
footballing revolution in the central African country. In 1982 they got
Cameroon to the World Cup finals for the first time, and were unfortunate
not to get past the first round in Spain. They were also unlucky not to
progress beyond the group stage in France three years ago.
Nowadays, there is an even better set of players, who have the potential
to keep Cameroon at the top of the heap on the African continent.
West Ham defender Rigobert Song leads the side, but Parma forward Patrick
Mboma is their key to success.
The current African Footballer of the Year is actually more French than
Cameroonian, having left Africa at a young age. He is also something of
a late arrival on the international stage. But he has made a huge impact,
particularly in combination with teenage prodigy Samuel Eto'o.
Other quality players include Geremi Fotso Njitap of Real Madrid and Pierre
Wome, the crunching midfielder who was 16 when he first played for the
Indomitable Lions.
At the Nations Cup last year, the best player was Lauren Etame-Mayer,
now at Arsenal and often unwilling to do national duty when his club interests
are better served.
Patrick Mboma 15.11.70, Parma (Ita), 32 caps (20 gls) Named African Footballer
of the Year after helping his country win the Nations Cup and Olympic
gold in 2000. Career took off in the J.League in Japan, having moved to
Gamba Osaka from Paris Saint-Germain. Now in his fourth year in Serie
A, he moved to Parma last summer having been relegated with Cagliari last
season. Has scored 10 international goals in the past 12 months to keep
up a phenomenal strike rate with Cameroon.
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