Some ex-Lions players have been reacting variously in the issue, which has become national concern. Member of the 1990 glorious squad , Thomas Libih was the first to call for solidarity among players following the committee’s verdict. Also, Michel Kaham, former Cameroon right back at the 1982 Fifa World Cup and first African to attend World Cup tournament as coach and pl ayer (he was deputy coach in 1990) and now general manager of the Kadji Sports academy(the centre that discovered Eto'o,Nkoulou,Mbia,Kameni,Mandjeck,Makoun etc...) described the decision as a cataclysm, and that it is incomprehensible and disproportionate.
According to him, every country has something of value which it takes pride in and that of Cameroon is football. He said a megastar like Samuel Eto’o, the only Cameroonian player who can rival the best in the world should be protected. “I was stupefied because this decision puts an end to the professional career of Eto’o,” says Jean Paul Akono.
The former Lion and former coach of the 2000 Gold medalist Olympic team said he was saddened by the decision and that Eto’o is an icon who is respected the world over.
On his part, the critical Joseph Antoine Bell, former captain of the national team, said the two captains, Eto’o and his deputy, Eyong Enoh, should not have been punished as individuals because they were acting as players representatives. Bell argues that the players were reacting to a situation and nobody seems to go to the root of the problem. These reactions resonate with those of ordinary fans who are yet to come to terms with verdict.
The President of the African Athletic Federation, the Cameroonian born Kalkaba Malboum who is incidentally the chairman of the Local Olympic Committee also raised his voice on the matter,calling the decision an ureasonable one and asking Fecafoot to apply wisdom and discernment in the sanctions to preserve the carriers of the three players involved.
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