Since the announcement of the name of the future equipment supplier of the national soccer teams of Cameroon, the president of the Fécafoot, Samuel Eto'o, and FECAFOOT in general has come under severe criticism from Cameroonians especially on social media.
Samuel Eto'o will never be unanimous celebrated in his country. After the premature dismissal of Antonio Conceiçao to appoint Rigobert Song as coach, his conviction by the Spanish court, the divorce with Le Coq Sportif, the president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fécafoot) is again the target of Internet users and Cameroonian media. At the center of the controversy, the recruitment of the new equipment supplier of the Indomitable Lions.
"Eto'o does not respect us
The Fecafoot had announced Friday, August 12 to have chosen the company One All Sports as the future kit provider of the national teams. The two parties will sign a three-year agreement in the coming days. To the great displeasure of Indomitable Lions fans who were hoping for Puma, Nike or Adidas.
Many Cameroonian twitter users dispute the choice of this equipment manufacturer. "A big joke," wrote KLouisine. Eric Banoum almost chokes: "Eto'o does not respect us."
What angers Cameroonians more is not only the fact that the firm that excels in the trade of equipment and accessories for motor sports is unknown to the world of soccer. But (almost) unknown at all. It is indeed difficult to find information about the successor of Le Coq Sportif. Both on Google and on social networks.
On Twitter for example, its last publication dates back to January... 2019. "No link on One All Sports on the net. And when I search for One All Sports, I don't see anything interesting," points out Georgesfopa1 on Twitter. Unless I'm mistaken, I don't think this brand has been around for 20 years. That's just editing. Even on Wikipedia we can't find it."
Lack of transparency
The financial clauses of the future contract with One All Sports have not been disclosed. But the Fécafoot announced that it is the most lucrative contract ever concluded by Cameroon. An announcement that does not convince everyone. To the point where some commentators who advocate the publication of the exact amount of the transaction speak of a "mafia operation".
"We did not hesitate to publish the old figures of the Coq Sportif, Puma even, and as luck would have it, an unknown equipment manufacturer wants to keep (the) confidentiality. Let's remain lucid please," tweeted the user SP Ekani. Another to assert: "Give us the figures. All other contracts, the amounts were known. We know what these equipment suppliers give to the Mannschaft, the Blues, the Brazilians, the Nigerians, etc.. Why hide the figures? It's not serious."
The Executive Committee in question
Those who expected Fécafoot to recruit a well-known soccer equipment supplier are bound to be disappointed. But the governing body promises that the choice of One All Sports has been approved by its Executive Committee. And on this point, another controversy is brewing.
Some argue that the Executive Committee of Fecafoot has never met since the end of July. And that the recruitment of One All Sports would have been approved only by its president, Samuel Eto'o. "We are not idiots," says the Cameroonian whistleblower Boris Bertolt. What Executive Committee? When was it held? Where was it held? With whom? What is the communiqué that sanctioned the end of the work? Who are those who participated?
The latter argues: "Here is what is provided for in Article 39 paragraph 4 of the texts of Fecafoot: 'the convocations to an ordinary session of the Executive Committee, written in French and English and accompanied by the agenda must be sent to all members eight days before'. Not only was no notice sent out. But in addition to that, there was no meeting (of the) Executive Committee."
A version supported by Guibaï Gatama, a member of the said Executive Committee who assures that he was never informed of the holding of a meeting of this body in order to decide the question of the recruitment of a new equipment supplier. For the rest," he said, "I do not know anything and I will not comment.
Despite all the commotion, the president of Fécafoot remains unmoved: "I am one of those who write history," he prophesies. I do not like to comment on history. I write my history, others comment on it."
