by TINTSWALO BALOYI
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – CAMEROON are going through an unprecedented sporting civil war. The coach of South Africa has slumped into racism and sexism. Elsewhere, even a playing kit has sparked a furore.
So severe are the cases the judiciary might be roped in.
That is how discord is blighting some teams’ preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
If the upheaval is anything to go by, football has ceased to be The Beautiful Game in the affected countries.
They are running out of time to put their houses in order ahead of the continent’s prime football tournament, which kicks off on Sunday.
The hosts and Comoros get the ball rolling in Rabat.
Five-time winners, Cameroon, are enduring arguably their most volatile and shambolic chapter in history.
Amid the conflict overshadowing preparations, there are two rival coaches, each who has named their own squad to compete in Morocco,
This emanates from a much-publicised fallout between Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT), and the coach he has fired, Marc Brys.
The Belgian Brys, appointed by the sports ministry, refuses to vacate the hotseat and maintains his contract remains valid.
He has announced his squad.
Eto’o has appointed local coach, David Pagou, who has named a different squad.
AFCON goals record-holder (18 goals), Eto’o, has left an indelible mark in the tournament and in world football as one of the most prominent strikers between 1997 and 2019.
However, his tenure as an administrator has been marred by controversy, since 2021, when he was elected president of FECAFOOT.
The Indomitable Lions are in the same group with Gabon, Ivory Coast and Mozambique.
In South Africa, coach Hugo Broos has courted racism and sexism controversy as turbulence hit at a time the nation had suddenly fallen in love with the team.
This follows his public criticism of probably the best player in the country now, Mbekezeli Mbokazi (20). This after the defender arrived late for camp. Mbokazi’s female agent, Basia Michaels, who has secured the player a move to the United States elite league, was not spared the coach’s diatribe.
In a recent press conference, Belgian Broos (73) is quoted as saying of Mbokazi, “He is currently a Black man, but he will come out white after I have met with him.”
He is quoted as referring to Michaels as “That little woman who thinks she knows football.”
Broos has in that outburst infuriated Mbokazi’s current club, Orlando Pirates, accusing them of sending him “a message with nonsense… really nonsense” on why Mbokazi missed his flight to join camp.
The bulk of Broos’ 28-man squad (nine) is from Pirates, the log leaders captained by Mbokazi.
The United Democratic Movement (UDM), one of the smaller parties in the government of national unity, has approached the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to probe Broos.
Over 30 years since the end of apartheid, racism remains an issue in South Africa. In November, the government also declared gender-based violence a “National Disaster.”
Broos has denied the racism and sexism allegations, arguing he was rebuking the player’s conduct and claims subsequent comments were misinterpreted.
“I distance myself from any accusation of racism and sexism,” he stated.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) stands by its coach.
“It is mind-boggling that the coach would be described in such a manner towards a player he has consistently supported since selecting him for the first time a few months ago,” SAFA has stated.
The 1996 winners, Bafana Bafana, are in a group also featuring Angola, Egypt and neighbouring Zimbabwe.
In Zimbabwe, a kit that has been unveiled for the Warriors to compete in has triggered a fallout between the association (ZIFA) and followers, a quarrel compounded by the omission of some certain players from the squad.
Zimbabweans and fans from rival nations have disparaged the kit online.
“Even the players’ demeanour at the launch told a story. And it’s not a good one,” argued Fadzayi Mahere, a former opposition legislator.
The kit is a little-known brand called “Warrior Pride.”
Zimbabwe, who last played in the tournament in 2021, are emerging from a ban by the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA).
The omission of English-based Marshall Munetsi has sparked a war-of-words between the player and ZIFA as well ZIFA and fans, some who are running online campaigns to demand his call-up.
Some of the attacks against the football association border on cyber bullying.
ZIFA reports the player is injured but he insists he is available. Critics allege Munetsi, the team’s vice captain, has been sidelined for outspokenness about player welfare issues.
ZIFA has threatened legal action over allegations against its Secretariat, particularly, Kudzai Chitima, who over some time has been a target of abuse on social media over allegedly influencing team selection, the missing player passports saga and the Munetsi issue.
“The Association strongly condemns the hate mail, threats and personal attacks directed at officials and notes that such conduct is unacceptable and will be escalated to the appropriate law-enforcement authorities,” ZIFA stated.
Twenty-four (24) teams will feature in the 35th edition of AFCON. Ivory Coast, the three-time winners, are the defending champions.
– CAJ News