Senator blasts FECAFOOT, describes its action wicked

The President of the South West Regional League of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), Senator Mbella Moki Charles, has blasted the institution’s interim administration, saying he is disappointed with the way they are normalizing Cameroon football.

The former National Vice President of FECAFOOT was speaking in a live interview on a local radio in Buea on Tuesday 12 December, 2017. He was reacting after the normalization committee put an abrupt stop to all regional and divisional leagues of the 2016-17 football season.

The decision came less than 24 hours after the 2017 Cameroon Cup final was played in Yaoundé. 

According to the communiqué signed by the Committee’s President, Barrister Dieudonne Hapi on the 4th of December 2017, and published on Monday 11 December, such competitions (continuing after the Cup of Cameroon) have often seriously disrupted the next season. 

He further stated the urgent need to guard against the cancellation of future FECAFOOT elections by CAF and FIFA, build credibility as well as harmonize various championships.

Senator Mbella Moki’s interview with Isifu M. Wirfengla at 7.20 am local time on CBS Radio Buea

Question: How did you receive the news of the abrupt cancellation of the current football season at regional and divisional levels by FECAFOOT ?

I was totally devastated and disappointed. At a concertation meeting yesterday with the normalization committee I expressed my indignation, warned them on the consequences of such a decision. I questioned the rationale behind that decision. They were supposed to have called all the regional presidents to present the raison d’etre for such an action but FECAFOOT was adamant. People just assemble in Yaoundé and think that from there the rest of the nation has to be associated to their thinking in Yaoundé which is very wrong. 

That is the culture of decentralization that we are not used to. They think that they can do anything anytime and anything goes. 

Question: Did you ever feel that future FECAFOOT elections would be cancelled if the regional and divisional competitions for the current season pulled through?

Well, I am not in a position to answer. But I am so disappointed with the way things are going. 

Question: Where do we go from here with the much awaited final between Opopo and Maumu Youth?

Well I have played my own part. I have registered my concerns and highlighted the consequences that could follow such an act. It is not just the clubs. Mind you there are youngsters, footballers who have spent time one whole season expressing themselves on the field of play, foreseeing several goals. For you to declare a blank football year without taking into consideration the thousands of young men who are in this course, to say the least, is a very wicked act. 

It is not because we want to win or influence the FECAFOOT elections, that we should compromise the future of young men and women, especially at a time when Cameroon is facing socio-political challenges. It is like adding more fuel to the fire. Comparing all of that to what is happening now, I think there are dishonest Cameroonians who do not care about the survival of this country. 

Question: Mr Senator how are some of your colleagues, regional league presidents reacting to the communiqué?

Let me tell you the truth. It is in the centre region that they cannot put the house in order. How dare you think that the atmosphere in Yaoundé should be used to measure the pores in the rest of the region?  Yaoundé is not the whole country. Yaoundé is part of the whole country. 

Unfortunately these are persons who have already decided, who have a hidden agenda. It’s a very bad idea. 

Money spent can make me die at the spot-Maumu President

Maumu have trained in vain

The President of Maumu Youth FC, one of the clubs qualified for the final of the 2017 South West regional championship, says he can die at the spot if he calculates the money he spent in the current season. 

In an interview with a local radio on Tuesday 12 December, Mr Atabe Harrison said he was disappointed with FECAFOOT for cancelling what seemed one of the best football seasons South West of Cameroon. 

President Atabe Harrison’s interview with Isifu M. Wirfengla at 7.26 a.m. local time on CBS Radio Buea

Question: How did you receive the news about the cancelation of the league, your final against Opopo?

I felt very disappointed. I felt very bad for my players because they wanted to show the South West they were the hidden talents.  

Question: How much do you think you have spent this season? 

Isifu if I want to calculate what I have spent so far I think I will just die, at the spot. I don’t really know what to say but money will not feel or cancel the pain. Money isn’t necessary now. What we should do is talk about is the cancelation of the league, because I really wanted to play the final. 

Question: How have your players and coaches been reacting?

Yesterday, we all were at training. We had this news in mind and since it was like a rumour, we didn’t whisper it to the players because we didn’t want to play with their psychology. 

But when the news finally came Coach Njuku Barnabas felt bad. He felt very disappointed. He called me lamenting how he wanted to show the region his prowess, advertise himself to the national territory. 

Question: So what is your next step Mr Club President?

That is where the financial aspect comes in. We don’t know how to start preparing for the next season. We didn’t aim at national inter pool but experience. I think the experience we have had is not enough. We have no token in our account as far as finances are concerned now. 

Question: When were you told subventions will come?

I have no idea. I read the communiqué and such wasn’t mentioned. 

Consequences of the decision annulling local leagues

Consequently, all the regional and divisional leagues which were either on-going or ended have been cancelled. In the South West Region, the much awaited mini-inter pool final pitting Opopo to Maumu Youth has become a non-event.

The five (5) clubs earlier sanctioned and forfeited from the South West regional league may resurface. They include: Ekona FC, Vipers FC Ekombe, Ajax Likomba, Manyu FC and Barca Junior of Banga Bakundu.

The national inter pool competition (qualifiers to Professional League 2) involving ten regional champions will not take place. 

As a matter of fact, no team drops from MTN Elite 1 and 2. 

All in all, pundits have questioned the timing of the decision, describing it as harsh because much sacrifice has been made by local players and club officials. 

The communiqué dominantly in French however states that FECAFOOT will make provision for the programme of the 2017-18 football season and modalities of participation.