Alain Denis Ikoul's Critique of the Cameroonian Ballon d'Or Ceremony

"I enjoyed the evening itself; there were distinct improvements compared to the last edition, indicating considerable effort at FECAFOOT. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were more involved in a grand public relations operation than an authentic ceremony honoring football contributors."{loadmoduleid 377}

The concept of awarding cars as Ballon d'Or prizes isn't inherently flawed, except in our context, marked by players enduring a season of unpaid salaries and often erratic league schedules. I'm sorry, but not these types of vehicles (if they are indeed genuine). It seemed more like a communication operation by the federation and its president. God only knows how much this federation loves to ride on strong symbols.

If I'm mistaken, someone needs to explain to me the rationale behind offering a vehicle with a price tag significantly higher than the total amount of sponsorship that the same federation struggles to distribute to clubs. How can we justify giving €80,000 cars to players while national teams continue to travel in a dilapidated bus? It's merely for show, and some might call it a scam because, truthfully, that money could have effectively revitalized youth football, which is not functioning properly in our country. How can the Ballon d'Or car have more value than the championship prize in the country? The Ballon d'Or received five million, which is commendable, but now the federation must efficiently structure football from the grassroots and provide Cameroonians with a high-quality league that allows players to buy the cars they want without resorting to such manipulations against the people.

I'm not against the idea of offering a vehicle in principle, but this type of vehicle in our context, I'm sorry, is just to ensure that soon it will be included in Samuel Eto'o's legacy as a significant achievement. In essence, it serves the image of the Pichichi's term in the eyes of the public, not Cameroonian football.

Lastly, I was quite dismayed to see the audience applauding the federation president's speech, which I personally found very impertinent. This ceremony is primarily an opportunity to assess the season, yet the president spent his time praising those who supported him. I expected him to apologize to the Cameroonian people for all the mishaps last season and even in the current one: beaten referees, disputes with clubs, abysmal continental performances by our clubs, and other issues he conveniently omitted. He focused on his praises and the recounting of his exploits, as usual, and I found that very disconcerting.

In conclusion, it was undeniably a rather beautiful ceremony, especially with Leonard Chatelain at the microphone, proving that lessons were learned from the previous season's "Mboma fiasco." Nonetheless, FECAFOOT has scored a significant victory in terms of the image of its president. Samuel Eto'o currently needs it in the face of a Cameroonian public that is ambivalent about his term, and where his likability is severely compromised.{loadmoduleid 377}