Soccer-New Cameroon Coach Brys Indicators Contract However 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.

Final 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 workforce coach and has not beforehand labored on the African continent.

FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto’o issued a press release on Monday, excusing himself from the disclosing occasion.

“We thanks for inviting us to the ceremony. Following this, we inform you of the truth that we acquired the letter two hours earlier than the mentioned ceremony,” wrote Eto’o.

“Sadly, we’re busy organising the funeral of our late Dad, and because of this we won’t be able to attend presence on 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 workforce coach and subsequently 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 an alternate coach for the nationwide workforce.

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

In a letter to FECAFOOT, Kombi mentioned his ministry’s appointment of teaching employees “under no circumstances impacts the autonomy of FECAFOOT and doesn’t violate any of the ‘supranational rules”.

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 yr.

“These are extreme quantities by no means paid to any coach within the historical past of the Indomitable Lions,” Kombi mentioned.

($1 = 0.9211 euros)

(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape City; Further reporting by Amindeh Blaise Atabong in Yaounde; Modifying by Ken Ferris)

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