The Entrepreneur - Cameroon's Premier Economic & Business Journal

South Africa replace Libya as hosts of 2013 African Nations Cup

By Ben Nakomo

The South African Football Association said Thursday, August 25, 2011, it had signed an agreement with Libya’s football federation to host the 2013 African Cup of Nations in place of Libya currently facing a civil war. In its statement, South African Football Association, SAFA said the agreement reached with the Libyan government of Muammar Gadhafi will see Libya stage the 2017 Cup of Nations, which was initially awarded to South Africa, with the 2010 World Cup host country taking over the African Cup in two years’ time. South Africa boasts of top class football stadiums. Libya’s staging of Africa’s top football championship had been in doubt since the NATO sponsored uprising by rebel terrorists against its development oriented enigmatic leader Colonel Muammar Gadhafi.© The Entrepreneur Newspaper 2011. All Rights Reserved

London Unfit to Host 2012 Olympics

Cape Town, South Africa should be considered as alternate Venue

By Ben Nakomo

The London riots amidst perennial security threats from terror groups from Northern Ireland and far afield as Kabul, has cast doubts on the readiness and safety of London to host the 2012 Olympics. With a surge of criminality spreading from London across the British Isles there is drastic rethink on Olympic policing capability of London. David Cameron's regime is alleged talking with security operatives in the United States to help improve on British security. Requiring more than 16,000 troops last week to quel the unrest, amidst looting and ransacking of houses, there are fears amidst some members of the Local Organising Committee on the need to rethink the security budget and plans. London's shocking scenes have caused an original plan that would have seen around 9,000 police officers on the streets of London during the Olympics to be scrapped, and figures closer to the 16,000 which were deployed under its anarchical spree in last  week’s emergency measures are now likely.

Manchester United sign airtel deal

By Ben Nakomo

Manchester United Football Club and Bhartic airtel, the leading global telecommunications company that last year took over most of Zain’s African assets, have entered an exclusive four-year partnership agreement. The sponsorship agreement will see Manchester United support the Airtel Allstars’ search for young African football talent. Customers of airtel will have the opportunity to win tickets to watch the team play in Manchester in the UK, to take part in coaching sessions, access exclusive Manchester United news and download highlights, ringtones and wallpapers through airtel mobile portal. Manchester United’s first-team shirt will carry the airtel brand name.

Javier Clemente Heads Cameroon's National Football Team Coaching Staff

Javier Clemente, Omam Biyick, Jacques Songo’o; the trio in command

By Pamela Bidjocka

It was being rumoured, the rumour and speculation was confirmed through a communiqué signed on Tuesday 17th of August 2010. Javier Clemente, Omam Biyick and Jacques Songo’o all make up the team to coach the Indomitable Lions in the next two years. Before the communiqué was made public, some fans whispered that an agreement between Javier Clemente and the President of the Cameroon Football Federation, Iya Mohamed had been signed in Biarritz, France. The Spanish coach who has been a player and former coach of the Spanish national team will receive his baptism of fire in just about three weeks as Cameroon faces the Mauritius Island in matches counting for the eliminatory of the African Cup of Nations.

Football Camerounais: Le Nouveau Paradigme

Par Mathias Victorien Ntep

La débâcle des LIC -- Lions Indomptables du Cameroun --  lors de ce Mondial en terre sud-africaine a favorisé la mise en exergue des fléaux qui ont jusqu´ici miné le football camerounais et le pays tout entier en général. Les Camerounais – tant du bercail que de l´étranger --  pourront-ils enfin assimiler la pensée selon laquelle il ne sert à rien d´escamoter les problèmes, de recourir au bricolage, aux « quimboiseurs », aux marabouts pour bidouiller des pseudo-solutions ? Pourront-ils enfin comprendre que la réalisation du potentiel du Cameroun et des Camerounais dans tous les domaines passe nécessairement par la valorisation de la critique franche et constructive, du goût du labeur, de la méritocratie, de  la probité, du savoir-vivre  et de la conscience professionnelle?   

Ivory Coast bow out on winning note

Cote d’Ivoire have been eliminated from the World Cup as they failed to achieve the eight-goal swing against North Korea that would have put Portugal under threat, winning only 3-0. The first half was entirely monopolised by the Elephants, but despite creating a stream of chances, they would only strike twice, with goals from Yaya Toure and Koffi Romaric. Such profligacy would be regretted after the break, as the Africans weren’t nearly so sharp and would only add to their tally late on from substitute Salomon Kalou...More

Africa’s only hope bows to Germany, but gets to knock-out stage

By Joachim Arrey

In a highly contested match on Wednesday, June 23, 2010, Africa’s only hope bowed to a much determined German team. The Germans controlled most of the match, putting enormous pressure on the Black Starts who have gone to the knock-out stage due to a goal advantage over Australia who beat Serbia 2-1 on Wednesday. Australia did go down 0-4 against Germany during their first match and this has worked against the Socceroos.

U.S. Soccer Team Shows American Spirit in Match against Slovenia

The Maturity of US Soccer

By Joachim Arrey

If anybody has ever doubted that the American spirit is not the best, then they must question their own thinking today as American soccer players put that spirit on display on Friday, June 18, 2010, in South Africa where the World Cup is taking place. In a match against a tough Slovenian side that ran riot in the first half, scoring twice without a response from the North Americans, the U.S. team proved that though soccer was not their invention, they could however take on any country in the world in that domain. Like the Americans they are, the U.S. soccer team kept its composure, gradually wearing out the Slovenian squad that thought it was already into the knock-out stage. Little they know that Americans are like Spartans who will die, but will never surrender.

Cameroon-Denmark World Cup Preview: Eto'o vs Bendtner in Must-Win Clash

Cameroon vs. Denmark,  Saturday, June 17 at 7:30 p.m. CAT

Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria.

Cameroon captain Samuel Eto'o knows his legacy depends on the national team's results at the 2010 World Cup. "At the end of this World Cup, [manager] Paul [Le Guen] will be accountable to his officials, who trusted him. And I, as a player and captain of this team, I will do the same," Eto'o told members of the press following Cameroon's shocking upset loss at the hands of group minnows Japan. As Cameroon's all-time leading scorer and by far the most high profile player the small West African nation has ever produced, Eto'o is used to seeing an outsized share of the blame when his team falls short of expectations. Most recently, all-time great Indomitable Lion, Roger Milla, expressed doubts about Eto'o's national team commitment...More

2010 World Cup: Another Giant Goes Down

Learning from Germany's Loss

By Joachim Arrey

After Switzerland’s victory over Spain, more so-called favorites are going down in disgrace. France bowed down to Mexico like angels do to God on Thursday, while Germany that thrashed Australia 4-0 in its opening match bit the dust on Friday in an exciting match against Serbia. Using the same squad it fielded during its match against Australia, Germany started off with huge and dangerous attacks hoping to break down the Serbs very early in the match. But the strategy did not pay off as Serbia had, on its own, rolled out a similar strategy, making the most of its entire arsenal. Attacks by Podoski, Klose, Schweinsteiger and others did not produce the right results for a German team that had made a clear statement of intent during its first match. Germany’s constant attacks after the expulsion of their star player, Klose, finally resulted in a penalty which was unfortunately not transformed into a goal by Podoski, who is noted for exceptional penalty kicks.