Tempers flare as Marc Brys-FECAFOOT meeting ends in deadlock

The meeting between the Cameroon Football Federation and national team coach Marc Brys on Tuesday, was unsuccessful as both parties failed to agree.

New coach Marc Brys had been summoned to the FA headquarters in Yaounde for a meeting aimed at restoring order at the helm of the national team ahead of upcoming World Cup qualification matches against Cape Verde and Angola.

Tempers started flaring from the arrival of the MINSEP-appointed coaching staff and the minister’s representative, Cyrille Tolo at the FECAFOOT head office in Tsinga Yaounde. Marc Brys and his assistant were first allowed into the federation’s premises, while the MINSEP technical adviser and other collaborators were denied access. They were later allowed to get in but the meeting had to involve just Marc Brys and his assistant, which the Marc Brys and MINSEP camp did not accept.

The conflicting views led to a heated argument between FECAFOOT President, Samuel Eto’o, and the sports minister’s technical adviser as well as the coach.

“Do not disturb my workspace…you know me very well…When I come to the Ministry, I respect you, here, I’m the only boss. It is the last time that I’m telling you” Eto’o warned Cyrille Tolo who insisted that they will only follow the sports minister’s instructions. “No you won’t work with your collaborators…because I have instructions from the ministry” he said.

The atmosphere became more tense as Eto’o raised his voice at the MINSEP technical adviser who responded with an even higher tone “You do not raise your voice at me” he said. “I do not want noise here” Eto’o lashed back.

Speaking to Marc Brys, Eto’o told him “You’re coach because I appointed you, not because someone else appointed you”. Marc Brys smirked, stating that he is the one who decides as the coach. “Don’t talk to me like that, I’m the coach here” the tactician said. He added that “I am the one that decides at the end, who I do what with”, a point which Eto’o immediately denied, pointing out that if he leaves the office without attending the meeting, he should never come back.

The coach, the minister’s representative, and other national team staff members jointly left. Tolo insisted that there is just one coaching staff, the one appointed by the Sports Ministry and not the one validated by Eto’o.