CHAN 2020: in Cameroon, the long road towards the reconversion of the former Indomitable Lions
From left to right: François Oman-Biyik, Stephen Tataw and Roger Milla, three Indomitable with a very different post-career.
Georges Gobert / AFP
Text by: Ndiasse Sambe Follow
5 mins
In Cameroon, the reconversion of the former glory of football is far from being a long quiet river.
Thanks to the Collective of Former Indomitable Lions, the nation's former heroes can find help and the means for retraining.
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From our special correspondent in Yaoundé,
The wait was long and lasted 30 years.
Thirty years after their glorious journey to the quarter-finals at the 1990 Italian World Cup, the Indomitable Lions received the keys to the houses that President Paul Biya had granted them.
A reward for service to the nation behind which it was necessary to run while the presidential decree had been signed for a long time.
'
C
'
is
a big win for us
, says Bertin Ebewellé, president of the Collective of former Indomitable Lions.
This proves that we exist and that the authorities are listening to us
”.
The former Indomitable, who was part of the Italian adventure, heads the association created in 2011 with the following objective: "
solidarity, medical follow-up and especially help with the retraining of former internationals
.
"
In Cameroon, but also in many African countries, the retirement of internationals and professional footballers, already a small death, becomes a crossing of the desert for many.
Many of them take the full brunt of the realities of an unprepared or poorly prepared post-career.
“
The problem for many Africans is not being aware that the aftercare is being prepared while you are in activity.
Some who have not done so find themselves overnight to feel that the way of life has changed, the standard of living has changed,
”testifies Bill Tchato, former international, now coordinator of Cameroon's national teams.
“
Me, I was lucky to have a good entourage.
When you have people who are there just to take advantage of you, you pay dearly in the end.
I was an average player, with an honorable career and I knew that I had to reduce my lifestyle long before the end of my career and invest to be comfortable today
.
"
Administration, management, entrepreneurship
Some footballers ended up in misery, unable to reinvent themselves.
The houses of President Biya therefore came a little late for two Indomitable from 1990, deceased and whose end of life was not the happiest.
“
It's a shame, but at least today their families benefit from these houses,
” says Bertin Ebwellé.
The Collective of Former Indomitable Lions has 98 members today and is initiating training in many areas to "
recycle
"
the elders
.
“
This goes from administration to sports management through training in entrepreneurship to start his own account
”, informs Ebwellé.
Under the “pressure” of the Collective, the fate of the ancient glories is beginning to be taken into account by the Cameroonian authorities.
The Minister of Sports Narcisse Mouellé believes that the State is aware of its role vis-à-vis ancient glories.
“
The Cameroonian nation wishes to honor those who have honored the Republic.
Cameroon is attentive to the development and fate of ancient sporting glories.
They are often consulted or associated with certain working groups ”
, informs the Minister of Sports.
As proof, he quotes: “
Roger Milla has been appointed itinerant ambassador.
Rigobert Song coach of U23, Oman-Biyik assistant coach of team A or Bill Tchato, coordinator of national teams
.
"
Raise awareness among young people
The Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot), the reflection is also on the fate of the former Indomitable Lions.
"
This is a problem that is not specific to Cameroon and it is a serious problem on which we are working to first try to have them around the same and only entity,"
says Seidou Mbombo Njoya, president of the Fecafoot
.
We are even reflecting with my other colleagues from other federations to see how, even at the level of CAF - which has already started working with former players - we can involve our former glory more.
And not just those who are famous.
We have to think about their reconversion because they are real football players who have given a lot for the nation and for Africa
”.
In the meantime, Bertin Ebwellé has also set himself the goal of educating young players on the need to prepare for the post-career.
“
I have a football academy, from which Oyango Bitolo came out, who plays in Montpellier (Ligue 1).
It is important to teach them how to manage their career, but above all, their retirement
”.
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CHAN 2020
Cameroon
Soccer