He is as lean, as fit and as hungry for the job as ever. Mr. Joseph Antoine Bell, by the looks of things, could still play the beautiful game at a measurably competitive level. He is articulate, pugnacious and controversial at times. He certainly has a lot of mouth on him, but he always backs it up. I do not recall Mr. Bell ever saying that he did not say what he said. So we ask: if this man, the only one who ever put up a bona fide fight to wrestle power away from a string of lamentable CEOs at the Fecafoot, can talk the talk, can he walk the walk?
In the court of public opinion, the jury is still out, of course, as to whether this man would be the overwhelming choice. But public goodwill is certainly on his side. Mr. Bell would be a shoo-in for the top job at Fecafoot in a free and public election. A broad-based weariness, a pervasive Fecafoot fatigue if you will, brought about by years of incompetence, lack of accountability and sheer contempt for the interest of the game, does partly explain the booming of Mr. Bell. His track-record as a player and his personal integrity by Cameroonian standards explain the rest.
The public wants to see the Fecafoot out of the headlines and back to its core activity, namely caring for the game of football in the country. Lean Mr. Bell would certainly, it is hoped, send all the Caesars of the day packing, bringing neatness and a sense of purpose to this sorry organization. For that alone and a number of other valid reasons, this man seems more and more like a beautiful and promising risk.
Léon Gwod
