Soccer-New Cameroon Coach Brys Signs Contract But Federation Skips Ceremony

YAOUNDE: Cameroon’s new coach Marc Brys penned a contract on Monday however the Belgian’s appointment by the federal government stays contentious because the soccer federation didn’t attend the signing ceremony.

Brys has been handed a 2-1/2-year contract by Cameroon’s sports activities ministry however the federation (FECAFOOT) was conspicuous by its absence on the occasion in Yaounde.

Last week, FECAFOOT criticised the unilateral resolution of sports activities minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombito to nominate the 61-year-old Brys, who has no prior expertise as a nationwide crew coach and has not beforehand labored on the African continent.

FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto’o issued an announcement on Monday, excusing himself from the revealing occasion.

“We thank you for inviting us to the ceremony. Following this, we inform you of the fact that we received the letter two hours before the said ceremony,” wrote Eto’o.

“Unfortunately, we are busy organising the funeral of our late Dad, and for this reason we will not be able to attend presence at the ceremony.”

His father’s funeral is to be held on the weekend.

Eto’o balked at Brys’ appointment and is now in a deepening standoff with the minister.

In Cameroon, the federal government has lengthy paid the wage of the nationwide crew coach and due to this fact held highly effective sway over FECAFOOT’s affairs, even when such state interference is frowned upon by world soccer’s governing physique FIFA.

Any heightened dispute dangers a possible ban from worldwide competitors for Cameroon, one of many heavyweights of African soccer.

FECAFOOT held an emergency assembly on Saturday and requested Eto’o to suggest another coach for the nationwide crew.

Earlier on the weekend, the minister had defended the appointment, saying he had acted in accordance with nationwide and worldwide laws.

In a letter to FECAFOOT, Kombi mentioned his ministry’s appointment of teaching workers “in no way affects the autonomy of FECAFOOT and does not violate any of the ‘supranational regulations”.

He mentioned FECAFOOT had recommended three candidates to the ministry however their wage calls for ranged between 1.5 million euros and a couple of.5 million euros ($1.63 million and $2.71 million) per 12 months.

“These are excessive amounts never paid to any coach in the history of the Indomitable Lions,” Kombi mentioned.

($1 = 0.9211 euros)

(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Additional reporting by Amindeh Blaise Atabong in Yaounde; Editing by Ken Ferris)

(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Reuters)