People tend to forget one important fact

source:canaldor.com

as far as music is concerned: it is hinged on culture. And culture is an expression of a people’s beliefs,habits,values and world-view.Critics have often  impugned Cameroonian and African musicians because their songs are replete with people’s names.To them,this is a bad thing which should be erased in order to make Cameroonian music in particular and African music in particular more attractive to the world.We must note here that this view is a bias perception of music because it doesn’t consider the fact that music originates from culture.Since  every culture has its specificities,music from a particular culture MUST be different  from the others.Consequently, if Cameroonian music is heavily infused with praise-singing and references to people,it is because in our culture, music was equally used to sing-praises.Thus, this trait is a contemporary manifestation of our cultural values.Furthermore,apart from the cultural raison-d’etre of praise-singing ,one can add the fact that musicians as artists,on the same scale as writers,need some space to express gratitude to those who supported them.And before you say that can be placed on the c.d cover,remember that almost nobody is interested in the cover.They want the contents and punctuating your lyrics with benefactors’ names is a much resounding tribute. Critics are many and unaware of the fact that praise-singing gives African and Cameroonian music its uniqueness just as rap music is famous for its vivid and sincere depiction of ghetto life.Our music cannot be unique by always genuflecting to foreign appreciation of us.Should we add that there’s a certain talent,finesse and creativity needed to come up with a good song that merges praise-singing and messages.Feel free to disagree. It is very convenient to label  Petit-Pays as a praise-singer but if its easy,others should praise-sing their way to the top as he did.

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The music industry is undoubtedly built on an intangible commodity called inspiration.This might give the impression that artists who are the main actors have a carte blanche to do as they like.Unfortunately, this is not the case because they depend on another entity called the public that has its whims and caprices. It decides when to love you and when to dispose of you.This component thus places a constraint on artists and they can no longer  change as they want because the public might get confused.This situation is sure not fair to the artists but thats the way it is.This observation pushes one to ask the question;which brand of music does  the talented Achalle do?

The 2004 winner of the National song competition,2006 Star2 demain winner,2008 Kora award nominee has shuttled from genre to genre over the past few years.His post-Star 2 Demain release “Bunya” left audiences feeling  that impression that he was going folklore. And then his smash hit “Feeling insecured” showcased his pop-crooner potential and the public taught “yes,he’s found his niche” and yearned for more. Surprise, surprise, Achalle seems to have taken the gospel road not only as a  backup vocalist for some gospel artists but also as a solo artist.These transitions, far from highlighting his artistic range, have left fans and pundits perplexed as to the artist’s real penchant.

It has equally overstretched  and weakened his punch as artist.uncertainty now looms where certainty where reigned as to his genre.Is he folkore,pop or gospel?Despite the immensity of an artist’s talent,he/she can’t be a jack -of- all -trades because contemporary music  and music lovers are much more exigent. And very few if not no artist,even with the input of legendary producers, can engage in such musical gymnastics with the sound resounding success which is what artists seek.Artists can sure explore other genres but more as an icing on their traditional cake. But 360 shifts from one genre are,to say the least, confusing.

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48-year-old Cameroonian football legend, Roger Milla bowed out from the Executive bureau of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) during a meeting held on the 21st of August in Yaounde.  He quits because the federation has failed to give an apology for the condemnation he received after criticising Samuel Eto’o before the World Cup in South Africa.

Remember Milla blatantly criticised the Cameroon captain , Samuel Eto’o before the World Cup during an interview accorded by the French media for performing well in  his club and not giving his best in the Cameroon national team as well as Paul Le Guen for not doing his job properly. Samuel Eto’o even reacted by threatening not to take part in the World Cup.

FECAFOOT and other sport officials took the side of Eto’o and condemned Roger Milla’s position.

« certaines grandes figures du football camerounais, de nature à perturber la sérénité au¬tour de la sélection »

Discontented with the sport officials, he asked them to apologise during the meeting held at Mont Febe Hotel on Saturday.

Failing to get this apology, the Cameroonian Football legend quit from the Executive committee.

”Thing wey Milla fit seeyam wey ee shidon, Eto’o no fit seeyam even ee climb for tree”

The Indomitable Lions’  demise in South Africa was foreseen by Roger Milla.’

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After Cameroon’s debacle at the World Cup in South Africa due to Paul Le Guen’s inability to maintain discipline in the squad, there was dire need for a new coach to bring serenity, sanity, victories and regain the stripped off reputation. The Cameroon Football Federation , FECAFOOT may have chosen Spanish Javier Clemente to do this job but his appointment has inflamed mixed feelings across the entire nation of Cameroon and former internationals. The newly appointed coach therefore has an arduous task to revert our failures and restore our trust.

Cameroonian names like Francois Omam Biyik, Akono, Patrick Mboma were initially short-listed to handle the job but to my greatest dismay, Francois Omam Biyik was retained only as assistant coach.

Why not appoint a Cameroonian to coach  the Indomitable Lions ? Is the trending question amongst Cameroonians.

I   sometimes wonder if the ingenuity to coach the Cameroonian squad exclusively belongs  to  European coaches.

A local coach like Akono disproved this myth in 2000 when he won the Olympic Games 2000 in Sydney as coach of the Under 23 National team.

Jacques Songo who was appointed as interim coach for the international friendly against  Poland thrived with his tactics and  also made us believe a local coach can handle the job even better by crushing Poland by 3-0 in Szczezin on the 11th of August.

Eugene Ekeke, a former professional in France and member of the 1990 glorious squad, who also has the highest coaching diploma offered by the French Football Association told SuperSport.com:  “It’s a big disappointment for me. I believe that after decades of hiring foreign coaches to train the national team, Cameroon has the people who can do the job.

We have a lot of former players, both at home and abroad, who have the profile and necessary experience to train the Lions of Cameroon, so I don’t see why we have to go searching for foreigners every time.”

But another point of view is,  if a local coach is appointed, what will be Cameroonians’ reaction if the local coach loses matches ?. Let’s remember what happened to Wome Nlend when he missed a penalty that had to qualify Cameroon for the Germany 2006 World Cup. He received all kinds of death threats and that was the end of his career with the national team. What then will be the fate of a local coach who permanently resides  in Cameroon ?

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Cameroon goalkeeper Kameni Carlos whose name was apparently omitted to be  part of the team to confront Poland in a friendly match on the 11th of August has accused Samuel Eto’o for influencing the selection of players in the National team. According to Jacques Songo’o , the interim coach and signatory of the 22 shortlisted  players, he did not call Kameni because he wants to give an opportunity to other goalkeepers notably Guy-Roland Ndy Assembe. Kameni who has been consistent for about 8 years  in the National team was very disappointed to watch the World Cup in South Africa unravel on the bench as a substitute and points his finger at the National team captain for his non-selection.

Is Kameni’s allegation true?

Rumours say the relationship between Samuel Eto’o and most of his teammates was filthy during the World Cup in South Africa.

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Dear captain and elder brother,

The news about your retirement from international career reached me during an Inter Milan training session in the United States . Though this announcement is not a surprise, it deserves more attention.

In 1998, when I arrived amongst the Indomitable Lions, I had the pleasure to mix with seniors like Patrick Mboma, Marc Vivien Foe, Raymond Kalla and of course you. These are the moments that are remarkable to any young player and I have very fond memories . Rigobert, you do not deserve to go by a simple press conference. We who have been teammates in the national team with you are calling for a more solemn retirement.

You will surely hold a jubilee when you quit your club career, but the country’s sports authorities should have the duty to organize  a tribute  game for everything that you brought to our country, well beyond a simple jubilee.

…You won two African Cups of Nations, you were finalist in the Confederations Cup, you have participated in four finals of the World Cup, you hold the record for most number of matches played during the CAN, you were captain national team for ten years. Very few people can match such a record with the Indomitable Lions.

I … address an open letter because I want to associate all Cameroonians and all those who love football to these few words.

Do not forget that you  still have to lead Trabzonspor to new conquests during the 2010-2011 season ahead.

Eto’o

Philadelphia, 2nd August 2010

Interpreted by NexDim

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Albeit the Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT is denouncing the publications of L’Equipe about soliciting Paul Le Guen to renew his contract as coach of the Cameroon national team, the idea has been hugely criticized by many Cameroonians and some football analysts.

Watching   ”La nuit du sport” yesterday on STV, Frank Happi , a TV sports consultant commented that  ”if  Le Guen returns to Cameroon, he will loss the respect of many players. ”  Paul Le Guen left the Cameroon  national team worse than what he met. To me, Paul Le Guen should not even be an option, ”  he bawls.

According to Alain Wabo, former coach of the Junior Indomitable Lions ,  ”If I am the decision maker, I would not renew Paul Le Guen’s contract as coach of the Indomitable Lions. He cannot be the solution for Cameroon at the moment. I just returned from South Africa where I attended the World Cup. Paul Le Guen has shown he has no experience to lead the Cameroon national team. In 17 games he had 17 teams. However, we did not have time to hone the team”

Justin Mbombog, a football coach based in France, hit the same nail.  ”He has lost control of the situation”

Asked whether Le Guen would be an option? Mbombog adds:  ”Yes! But I do not prefer. He is a good coach but he has lost his touch. No player  respected Paul Le Guen”

The same opinion runs through the minds of many Cameroonian football lovers  all over the world. To some , renewing Le Guen’s contract will mean twisting the knife in the wound.

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When Paul Le Guen arrived in Cameroon on the 25th of July 2009 to sign his contract as coach of the national team, he had, seated on his side Samuel Eto’o who both traveled from Paris.

The problem of  ’captaincy” in the national team was recurrent.  The fact that Samuel Eto’o became the vice captain of the national team before  Geremi Njitap started changing the serene atmosphere of the national team. Hence, division ensued.

With his title of ”pichichi’‘ and the poor performance of Rigobert Song, power was shifted.

Paul Le Guen did not call, meet or speak with Rigobert Song. Rumors of change of captaincy  accumulated until the first friendly match against Austria. “Rigo”, the boss, heated the bench while Samuel Eto’o was the new captain.

“Before the game, the coach never said  ” Rigo  ” will no longer be captain” . Things started degenerating from there.

The Lions however qualified for the African Nations Cup and World Cup.

CAN Angola in January 2010 was a disaster.

For the  friendly match in Monaco on March 3, 2010 against Italy, Geremi and “Rigo” are were not invited. Within the group, part of the team did not appreciate this gesture. In the dressing room, some players expressed their discontentment.

Players who expressed their discontentment were targeted. Rumors of them being discarded from the team began  circulating.

We were several weeks before the start of the World Cup. Achille Emana became more uncomfortable.

Under pressure, Le Guen finally decided to invite Geremi and Rigobert, but indicates that he did not definitely count on them.

During international friendlies before the kick-off of the World Cup,  Paul Le Guen decided to give ten days vacation to Samuel Eto’o, while the Lions were on intensive training in Lienz, Austria. The atmosphere was full of serenity and well-being.

The Young and newly recruited players were happy, the old too. The Lions in this state however secured draws.
From the match against Portugal and the arrival of  Samuel Eto’o, a stale atmosphere was established in the den.

Less than 24 hours after the group arrived in Durban Cameroon, we perceived the absence of  ”the old lions” and of Achille Emana and Alex Song in the group. The evil was deep. Paul Le Guen did not care.

The result against Japan aggravated the situation.

Between the first two games, authorities spent time reconciling clans to ease tensions.These efforts were futile as some players hated others.

The rift between Eto’o and Alex Song was evident. Some players did not mingle with others. The Media also kept  putting undue pressure.

Paul Le Guen  finally lost control of his team which led to ”Mighty”  Cameroon’s debacle.

Cameroon lost millions and lost honour.

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The most mediatized event is the world ahead of the SuperBowl, US Presidential Elections and the MTV Music Awards is the FIFA World Cup.

This event has been marred by certain unsportsmanlike behaviour and forgery exhibited by some players in decisive matches to score goals.

This world cup is sadly the most controversial signifying a negative trend inherent in modern football.

Nowadays  players have discovered that they can with total impunity commit fraudulent acts to save their teams to victory.

To back track, the original “hand of god” occurred during the 1986 World Cup when Diego Maradona scored with his hand.

The 2010 qualifiers started with the double-hand of god of Thierry Henry against Ireland which enabled them to qualify for the World Cup only to experience their worst performance in World Cup history. There is truly a just God!!

FABIANO’S hand of god.

Fabiano‘s  handball helped him to score his most beautiful goal in his career against Ivory Coast which saw Brazil lead by  3-1. He later admitted that he committed the foul.

The Ivory Coast defender Kolo Touré felt Fabiano’s debatable goal was crucial in the context of the game and criticised the referee , Lannoy. “The referee asked the player if he had touched the ball. How can a referee ask a player if he committed a foul?” Touré said.

The new hand of God,  SUAREZ

The most criticized act of fraudulence was perpetuated by Suarez when Ghana played Uruguay at the Quarter Finals. The ball was already getting in when Suarez intentionally blocked it with his hands.

He prevented a goal, but was given a red card a penalty kick awarded to Ghana (who failed to capitalize).

There are two schools of thought on this play.  First being that he is a cheater and an embarrassment to the game deserving of a harsher penalty.  The second school of thought was he had to do whatever he had to.  Take a calculated risk to prevent a sure goal, and hope Ghana wouldn’t score.  It turns out his risk worked out for his team. Regardless, I feel his excessive celebration (a sigh of relief and a hug or two would have been sufficient), his extreme pride in that play, and being carried off like a hero was classless and disgusting.

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