Several months since announcing the allocation of 560 million FCFA to support Elite 1 and 2 clubs in the country, the Cameroon government is yet to fulfill this annual financial obligation.
The funds which are meant to be a lifeline for the clubs, helping them to pay player salaries, maintain their teams, and compete effectively in national and international competitions have remained in the air.
How it all started
The controversy began when the Cameroonian government allocated 560 million FCFA to support football clubs in the top two leagues.
However, instead of the funds being distributed through FECAFOOT, the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Prof. Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, announced that the subsidies would be handed directly to the 33 concerned clubs; a move that was welcomed and in fact applauded by all the clubs concerned but they have been left hanging in limbo since then. The reasons for this delay are unclear, but it is reported that FECAFOOT and the Ministry of Sports are at loggerheads over the distribution of the funds as they have been over other key issues.
How it’s affecting players, the league and the FA
The ugly reality that the beautiful game faces in Cameroon has sparked a crisis that threatens the very foundations of the sport in the country. Many local footballers have gone without salaries for several months, forcing them to seek alternative means of survival. Players have gone on strike in protest of the deplorable conditions under which they work. In January 2023, players of Union Sportif of Douala, a top-flight club went on strike over unpaid salaries.
The effect of the non-payment of the subsidies has also been felt in the leagues as the quality of the game has declined significantly, with many matches being played in front of empty stadiums. The fans, who are the lifeblood of the game, have lost interest in the leagues due to the constant controversies and disputes.
This situation has also raised questions about the governance of football in Cameroon. FECAFOOT has been accused of mismanaging funds in the past, and the current crisis has only plunged the Cameroon FA into more scrutiny.
Way Forward
As the crisis deepens, the future of Cameroon football hangs on a balance. The government must take immediate action to pay the subsidies and ensure that the funds are used for their intended purpose. Anything less would be a betrayal of the trust reposed in them by the clubs, players, and fans.
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