A disaffected relationship between a coach and his employers would ordinarily lead to a end of that relationship, either through resignation or dismissal.
In Cameroon, however, it is not that simple. A web of entanglement between the state and football means we’ve arrived at the ridiculous situation where the national coach Otto Pfister has been effectively handed divorce papers but continues in his job.
The Cameroon Football Federation recently decided it no longer wants anything to do with the German coach, but they are not able to fire him.
Pfister was employed last November as coach of the team to replace Jules Nyongha, even though the local had successfully qualified Cameroon for the 2008 African Nations Cup.
The decision to hire a new coach, even though the team seemed to be performing well, was taken by both the federation and the country’s sports ministry. But because the sports ministry pays the salary of the coach, the final choice of Pfister was made by government as opposed to the Federation.
The choice of Pfister was not accepted by the Federation, who publicly stated its objection as the coach arrived in Yaoundé for contract discussions with the sports ministry.
In the end, though, political pressure on Federation president Mohamed Iya was such that he dropped his objections, and Pfister went on to take Cameroon to a surprise place in the Nations Cup final, where they lost to Egypt.
Now that the celebrations have fizzled out, and in spite of the Nations Cup achievement, the Federation wants Pfister out. But because they don’t directly employ him, they can’t fire him. So, perhaps for the first time in soccer, they have divorced the coach instead.
Mark Gleeson covers African football for Reuters
PHOTO: Cameroon coach Pfister celebrates a goal against Ghana in the African Nations Cup semi-final in Accra, February 7, 2008. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
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5 comments so far
If there is ever a question as to why African clubs never do all that well on the international stage here is the reason. Foolish and Corrupt FA’s forever tinkering with things that dont need to fixed.
http://futbolinks.blogspot.com
- Posted by billVery recently the Spanish national team was threatened with expulsion from UEFA competitions unless the government stopped meddling in affairs of the Spanish football federation - odereing it to hold an election.
Its fine for UEFA to insist upon such standards - but imagine if FIFA applied this ruling across world football: there’d be nobody left outside of Europe.
- Posted by La Liga ReviewGreat coach..great team! only falling to the perfect egypt side! pfester can compete with the greats as far as achievements !
- Posted by hamdyIt is time to do better things in Cameroon Football to grow up in the world.
- Posted by tomhttp://euro2008-blog.blogspot.com
“Foolish and Corrupt FA’s forever tinkering with things that dont need to fixed” ??
Which kind of argument is that? Nothing need to be fixed? What is the job of the federation according to you? If the federation says there is a problem, then there is one.
I have no problem with the coach, but the government of cameroon is setting bad precedents for the future of the continent, imposing a coach over the federation’s choice.
Paying the coaches is not enought to suggest the government should appoint coaches.It is well known that the government is corrupt, non tranparent and non accountable and non credible. There is no balance of power and no way to vote them out of power. Besides, it’s the TAXPAYER’s money. The federation has been working hard to modernize the management of the team but the government always brings the confusion by suggesting that it owns the team. Whatever! It owns the right to breathe too. It is dictatorial government and that is what you are suggesting to be OK.
The government of Cameroon needs to stop meddling into sports. Period.
- Posted by Gombo