Eto’o: “If I wanted to lock up journalists, 90% of journalists would be in prison”
By Nde Laura
The President of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), Samuel Eto’o Fils, has revealed that the contract between French kit supplier Le Coq Sportif was terminated because clauses of their contract were not being respected:
“You do not end a contract if all is going on well in the house,” he said.
He says the new kit supplier, One All Sports, will pay the sum of F CFA 1 billion yearly for the next three years into the federation’s account. They will also provide an ultra modern bus for the national team and 1 million Euros for equipment.
He was speaking during an exclusive interview granted to Rodrigue Tongue on Canal 2 International, a local television channel, on November 8th 2022.
With regards to the detention of the federation’s former interim Secretary General, Parfait Siki, Eto’o Fils explained it is not about him but about the growth of the federation:
“If I wanted to lock up journalists, 90% of journalists would be in prison. Many [journalists] criticise me but it is normal,” he said.
He made it clear that he will not react on the ongoing investigations, and will let the law take its course:
“Parfait and I worked together. I never asked him to leave Fecafoot, Fecafoot cannot let you serve the interest of other people.”
Samuel Etoo when asked about his issues with sports minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombi and his absence at the Cameroon Ballon d’or awards, he insinuated there is no problem between them:
”If I have to approach my father, I do that in hiding but the Minister’s Secetary was present with us.”
He also revealed that 66 persons in anonymity decided to let the mandate last for up to seven years
“ … Above me I have bosses, they are the delegates of the General Assembly. I would have loved to organize elections in the next three years and a month, but they make the decisions, I cannot do otherwise.”
Samuel Eto’o Fils also made it clear that he is ashamed to invite foreigners to Cameroon because the federation’s head office building in Tsinga, Yaounde is in a deplorable state and does not reflect the great football nation that Cameroon is. He noted that he has launched a massive project to build a modern head office for the federation .
On the issue of auditing of the federation’s finances, he says:
”The audit period is over and the results have been handed down to the general assembly and the mandate was given to hold those responsible into account. We, FECAFOOT, have spent billions which could have helped us to be at the same level with our football but it is the work of the Cameroon justice system. I have been a player and cannot defend a budget I don’t agree with.”
He says he is now working in collaboration with a local bank to ensure that refrees get their pay on time and can have access to their money anytime they want:
“Errors are human but if we discover that there was a voluntary move by the referee to have the course of the game altered we will have their salary suspended.”
He stated that he has no intention of going into politics as his dream was to become the federation president.
“It is not because I work with heads of state that I will like to be one. It is important for everyone to be at their place. Where I feel comfortable is football, what I wanted was to become Fecafoot president and I have. I have a mission to take Cameroon football to a greater height although it will take time to do that,” he declared.
samuel Eto’o Fils did not fail to acknowledge the effort put in by the people working backstage with him to ensure that the federation functions properly. Ever since he came to power in December 2021, Samuel Eto’o Fils has introduced a new way of managing football in Cameroon and even introduced the local ballon d’or awards.
Read also: Fecafoot GA vote to revise constitution, mandate of executives
