The call for applications for the recruitment of a coach for the national team of Cameroon sparked debates in the country. Among those who speak, former footballers including the former goalkeeper Joseph-Antoine Bell. The former captain of Olympique Marseille believes that the process initiated by the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education are intended to regulate the contractual status of the current coach Jean-Paul Akono. He did not doubt for a moment that his compatriot and former team-mate will remain at his post. Interview.
What did you think when you heard that the Cameroonian Minister of Sports and Physical Education asked the Cameroonian Football Federation to launch a call for applications for the recruitment of a national coach?
I heard that the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education had given 72 hours or something like that. Even if we can simply listen to the sports ministry and the federation and possibly be interested, I do not think there is something to worry about. Abroad, yes. Abroad, one could be surprise to review this tender and comment on the possibility of a coach replacement. Maybe I’m wrong, but I say that having seen the way Jean-Paul Akono took office and the way things are done in Cameroon, this could be an appeal to an administrative recruitment. Here’s how I perceived it. This is not in fact an appeal for application; a file cannot be buckled in 72 hours. These are the clues that made me think that it was the formalization of something.
Coach Jean-Paul Akono you consider as the recipient of this call estimated that this is a bad thing to do and refuses to apply …
He does not need to apply! He is known, he is under service! But what is regrettable and infuriating in this case is that we feel like there is a lack of trust between the parties and there is a lack of communication. The two things that enable these contradictory statements. I think the only thing that could be public; it is the declaration of tender. A man to man discussion should have taken place and would have been enough to one another to know what to do. The call for applications is more for the suckers, including foreign idiots who rush and call on all sides to send their records and the case is fastened with three days later in my opinion as stated by Akono. We must not forget that Akono took office a few months ago. I do not believe at all that Cameroon is now in view to provide extra performance. We replaced the coach a few months ago. The current coach takes good care of the team and we win. If we had to replace him, let’s wait for at least one occasion. And then, there is no opportunity to replace him. There is no reason to replace him. I do not think this is an appropriate time to make another change that will bring new waves so on. I do not agree with the idea of replacing Jean-Paul Akono. However, I maintain that that communication is unfortunately failed. And that not only we knew, but we know with regret that the communication between the Cameroonian Football Federation and the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education is not fair. We also know that the communication between the Federation and the coach does not necessarily pass. We saw the beginnings … This is very unfortunate and damaging at the same time. I will not blame Jean-Paul Akono for speaking, but I think there is something wrong, that’s for sure.
A few years ago you said that when you want a coach, you go in search of him but not to launch a call for applications to retain …
Absolutely. I understand even better what happened on this occasion. We have already a coach. If we still makes a tender, if we have announced that he was there acting and nobody announced the end of his acting, it does mean that there is a formality, it also seems logical. This is a purely administrative procedure insofar as the Federation is not sufficient in itself, does not pay its coach. The State of Cameroon, to pay, needs certain formality, that’s why I still think that this is simply the formalization of the choice of this act, this disbursement. Moreover, remember that there is still not so long ago, Cameroon does not launch tender. So one day someone among officials decided in the context of the fight against corruption, that foot should not be on the sidelines. As they pay, they cannot pay over the counter, it is the state that pays its money. The federation and the sports ministry could also just as easily apply to the Prime Ministry and the Ministry of Sports; the football coach can avoid this procedure there. All this is mere speculation. It was not worth the trouble to make the call because we know who we want.
Interview by
Pierre Arnaud Ntchapda