The Cameroon government’s offer of financial help to the three clubs representing the country in African club competitions has been dismissed as far too low.
The clubs received a total of £35,000 from the sports ministry, but officials of Canon Yaounde and Mount Cameroon Buea have complained bitterly that the money is not enough.
Canon, who play against El Merreikh of Sudan in the Champions league this weekend, received £20,000 but say it will not go far.
« The money is not in line with the budget we presented to the minister, » said Canon’s secretary general Repoulin Koungou.
« The money is not even enough to buy our tickets to Sudan »
Canon secretary-general Repoulin Koungou
« It’s not even enough to buy out flight tickets to Sudan which cost £23,000, » he added.
For Mount Cameroon owner, Calvin Foinding, the £5,000 his club was given was described as ‘peanuts’.
Champions League fixtures
Mount Cameroon play in against Akonangui FC from neighbouring Equatorial Guinea in the Cup Winners competition.
Only Coton Sport Garoua have failed to complain about the £10,000 they received.
Cup Winners Cup fixtures
But their sponsors, the cotton company Sodecoton, are well able to make up any shortfall for their match against Maranatha de Fiokpo in the Caf Cup.
The clubs were banking on a rule which grants national team status to clubs engaged in Caf competitions.
This automatically qualifies them for government assistance.
Caf Cup fixtures
Sports Minister Bidoung Mpkatt told the clubs it was not the time to quarrel over money, but to properly prepare to defend the image of Cameroon football.
As well as cash, national team coaches have been seconded to the clubs.
Futsal coach Pierre Ndjile is with Canon, U15 coach Engelbert Mbarga with Mount Cameroon and U20 coach Aboubakar Souleymane with Coton Sport.
Cameroon won the Champions Cup three times on the trot with Canon in 1978 and 1980, and Union Douala in 1979.
But they have not won a continental title since 1981, when Union Douala won the Cup Winners Cup.
Martin ETONGE
