When Samuel Eto바카라o won the election to become president of the Cameroon soccer federation, he jumped from his chair and punched the air like he might have done after scoring a goal at the height of a playing career that put him among the best strikers in the world. ()
But that celebration in December marked just the start for Eto바카라o, who has set himself the daunting task of rebuilding a broken domestic soccer structure in his Central African home country.
Cameroon바카라s national team is one of Africa바카라s most successful with five continental titles; Eto바카라o was on the team for two of them. Cameroon seized the world바카라s attention with a memorable run to the quarterfinals of the 1990 World Cup, led by charismatic striker Roger Milla. Many took notice of African soccer after that and Cameroon has gone on to play at seven World Cups, more than any other African nation.
Yet at home, the last decade has been deeply difficult. The national league has been bedeviled by interference from the government, allegations of corruption and unkept promises from soccer leaders. The league has been regularly disrupted, sponsors have deserted it 바카라 taking their money with them 바카라 and players have lost faith.
바카라I can바카라t list the number of players who have left football to do other jobs because they benefit nothing (from playing),바카라 said Che Malone, a defender with Coton Sport, Cameroon바카라s national champion.
Malone said many players in Cameroon 바카라play for free or almost free바카라 as some teams aren바카라t always able to pay their salaries.
Enter Eto바카라o.
It was a surprise when the former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker announced he was standing as a candidate to lead the troubled Cameroon federation. It was a shock when he won.
Eto바카라o promised to fight corruption, promote women바카라s soccer, improve stadiums and other infrastructure, get fans back at games and 바카라 maybe his key promise 바카라 improve the lives of players.
바카라It바카라s imperative to look beyond selfish interests in order to revive our local championships,바카라 Eto바카라o said.
He also stated he had a mission 바카라to rekindle the winning spirit within our national teams바카라 and there were early signs of that when Cameroon impressed and excited on the way to third place at the African Cup of Nations it hosted in January and February.
Turning around the domestic game won바카라t be nearly so easy, or immediate.
But the 41-year-old Eto바카라o has made a start, establishing a minimum wage for players in the top two tiers and enforcing rules requiring club owners to show proof they have enough money to pay their players and staff.
He has also negotiated a deal to see the return of league sponsor MTN, a multinational telecommunications company, and has promised to build 10 stadiums in answer to players바카라 pleas for better settings to ply their trade. Some lower-tier games go ahead on fields that have more bare earth than grass.
Cameroon바카라s top tier is also back up and running again having kicked off on March 16.
There바카라s a long road ahead, but Eto바카라o 바카라has ignited hope in us,바카라 said Frank Abianda, a striker with top-tier club AS Fortuna. 바카라At one moment the future seemed very dark.바카라
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