Former junior international, Victor Igbinoba, has hailed the emergence of Cameroon’s football legend, Samuel Eto’o, as the president of the country’s football federation, adding that it is the right path for all retired footballers should take.
Eto’o at the weekend beat Confederation of African Football Fourth Vice President, Seidou Mbombo Njoya, to emerge the new head of Cameroun’s FA (FECAFOOT) at a period Cameroun is hosting the next African Cup of Nations scheduled to begin in January.
Speaking to The Guardian yesterday, Igbinoba said the reason the country’s football is retrogressing is because of politicians, who have now seen football administration as an avenue to further their career at the detriment of the youth, who crave for a level-playing field to harness their talent.
“Against everyone’s expectations, the politicians are now the ones overseeing the country’s football, which is sad. In the western world, those that played the game before are either appointed or elected to run sports. But here in Nigeria, our former internationals have been relegated to the background and politicians, who do not know anything about football, now control the game. This is why our football has gone down.”
The China 1985 U-16 Cup winner added, “I believe we have so many former footballers in Nigeria, who are able and have also played the game to the highest level, just as Eto’o.
“I think this is the time for the real stakeholders to close ranks and take over what belongs to them by ensuring that the next NFF president must be a former footballer.”
“Enough is enough of these politicians camouflaging as sports administrators, who have destroyed football that unites us in the country. Our football needs to return to its glorious days.”
