14 Billion FCFA Project Of Former Malian Football Star, SEYDOU KEITA, To Be Launched Soon

Malian-born football icon, SEYDOU KEITA, who played professional football with several clubs, the most famous being FC Barcelona of Spain where he was a key player, has constructed a 14 billion FCFA (Fourteen billion francs CFA) agro-industrial complex in his beloved country. The industrial complex which will soon be officially inaugurated, is comprised of six different industrial units which will produces products like flour (wheat), washing soap, packaged beef, and cooking oil (Soja oil), among others.

Seydou Keita’a multi-billion francs project will not only contribute to the industrialisation and development of Mali, but it will as well make a significant contribution towards the realization of the import–substitution policy of Mali. A policy that many African countries have today adopted, in a bid to curb the dependence on Europe and Asia, especially for basic necessities or products. It should be noted that many African countries like Cameroon, are always on the losing side when it comes to the balance of trade with European and Asian countries because as is commonly said, the country imports even tooth–picks. Many African countries have thus been campaigning or lobbying for the creation of local industries, especially by nationals. Mali’s President of the Transition, Colonel Assimi Goita, has been calling on his countrymen at home and abroad, to strive to invest home, to stop the country’s dependence on imports, especially as regards basic necessities.

Meanwhile, early last month, precisely on May 7, the President of the Transition in Mali, Colonel Assimi Goita, received in the audience, the former Malian international football star and the country’s hero, Seydou Keita, who was accompanied by Mali’s Minister of Industries. Present at the meeting were also the country’s Minister of Finance as well as the Minister of Animal Husbandry. Speaking to the State media at the end of the meeting, Seydou Keita, said he came to present to the President his agro-industrial complex project which is at its completion stage, and will soon be inaugurated. Keita said the 14 billion FCFA agro – industrial complex project is his own contribution to the development of his country, Mali, as well as his own contribution to help provide jobs to Malian youths.

Seydou Keita called on all Malians at home and abroad who have the means, to strive to invest in the country, and thus contribute to its development. “We have no other home than Mali”, he stressed. It should be noted that besides the fact that Seydou Keita’a agro-industrial complex will contribute to the industrial development of Mali and also provide job opportunities to Malians, the company will also have to pay taxes to the State. That was apparently the reason for the presence of the Minister of Finance at the audience that the President of Mali granted to Seydou Keita. In principle, the money or funds generated by taxes is used by the Government to provide social amenities to the population, to carry out development projects like the construction of roads, to pay civil servants, and so on.

Africans in general will definitely appreciate the great initiative of Seydou Keita with his 14 billion FCFA agro – industrial complex project. Often we read stories of some African football players that made huge sums of money when they were playing football in Europe and elsewhere, but who because of extravagancy or recklessness instead became paupers after retirement. Here is a sharp contrast in the person of Seidou Keita. When somebody leaves Cameroon for Europe, North America and Asia including the Middle East, he is commonly said to have ‘fallen bush’. It means he has gone hunting, and Africa expects that its sons and daughters that go hunting will bring back home the ‘animals’ they catch, to help develop their different countries and thus the continent. There is generally big expectation as regard professional football players who generally make big money, as compared to others.

Cameroon is presented by many as a big football nation with many former and current football stars, including quite several football icons as well. Looking at Cameroonians who played professional football and are now on retirement, the list is long. They include; Albert Roger Milla, Jean Pierre Tokoto, Thomas Nkono, Joseph Antoine Bell, Geremie Njiap, Samuel Eto’o Fils, Joseph Desire Job, Joel Epalle, Emmanuel Maboang Kessack, Pagal, Francois Omam Biyick, Denis Jules Onana, Eugene Ekeke, Wome Nlend, Aurelin Chendjou, Alioum Bouka, Eyoum Charles, Kana Biyick, Simo Augustin, Raymond Kalla, Lucien Moutoume, Rigobert Song Bahanag, Enoh Eyong Tarkang, Bernard Tchoutang, Idrissou Mahamadou, Idris Carlos Kameni, Stephane Mbia Etoundi, Eric Djemba Djemba, Achile Webo, Achile Emana, Benjamin Moukandjo, Jacques Songo, Kanack Biyick, Javier Mbarga, Lucien Mettomo and so on.

There are quite several Cameroonian-born African football legends, amongst them Albert Roger Milla, Bell Joseph Antoine, Thomas Nkomo, Samuel Eto’o Fils, Francois Omam Biyick, Patrick Mboma, and a few others. Roger Mila was declared by the Confederation of African Football, CAF, as the Player of the Century, while Bell Joseph Antoine was on his part declared by CAF as the Goalkeeper of the Century. Many Cameroonian football players have over the years won the CAF player of the year trophy, with Samuel Eto’o Fils winning it four times. The only other African football player to have reached that level is Yaya Toure of Ivory Coast.

In Cameroon, these retired professional football players are treated like heroes on the basis that they made the name of the country known internationally because of their performances, or that they played in big professional clubs and won trophies, or that they won trophies or honour for Cameroon when they played for the national football team. Many of them also played for big and rich professional football clubs in Europe and beyond, where they made good money. Joseph Antoine Bell for example was a key player of Olympique de Marseille in France, in the days when it was one of the top clubs in Europe, and had as President the multi-billionaire, Bernard Tapie. Francois Omam Biyick and later Stephane Mbia Etoundi, also played professional football with Olympmpique de Marseille.

Geremie Njitap played for Chelsea FC in London, in the days when the club was rich and was one of the top clubs in Europe. Eric Djemba Djemba also made big money when he played for Manchester United. Rigobert Song Bahanag also played professional football in England, before later moving to Turkey. His nephew, Alexander Song, also played professional football with some big clubs like FC Barcelona. Of course, it is indisputable that the big boy amongst them all is Samuel Eto’o Fils, who played professional football with top clubs in Europe like FC Barcelona of Spain, Inter Milan in Italy and Chelsea in England. Eto’o was the highest paid player in the world when he played for two years with a Russian club, Makashkala. Eto’o is being presented by his supporters or fans as a multibillionaire.

Cameroon’s former professional football players, especially those who played for the senior male national football team, the Indomitable Lions, back home pass for heroes and patriots, that they made Cameroon known across the world. That they brought honour and pride to Cameroon with the trophies the Indomitable Lions won. Cameroon for example is five times winner of the AFCON. When a Cameroonian wants to let people know that he travelled out of the country, he would come up with a story of how when he got to the airport of this or that country and pulled out his Cameroonian passport, immigration officers and other people around rushed to embrace him, singing Milla, Milla, or Eto’o Eto’o, and how he became a star and was given VIP treatment. If that was the case, then Argentinians would be moving around the world without visas, thanks to Diego Maradona or Lionel Messi.

It is true that our football legends have contributed much to make Cameroon known in some countries, but the stories being told by some Cameroonians who want to show that they have travelled, are pure exaggerations. Some people even forget that football or soccer is not the king sport in some countries, including the United States. Reason why not much is now being heard about Messi since he moved to the United States to play professional soccer.

Also, calling all former players of our senior national football team great patriots because they won trophies or matches for Cameroon is a misuse of the words. There is no question that some former Lions like Roger Milla, while in the national team played for the flag, with little or no consideration for financial interest. But it is also true that we have over the yeas seen lions that refused to play a match, or delayed to leave the country for an international assignment, over financial issues. In 2014 the then-captain of Indomitable Lions, Samuel Eto’o, scandalously refused to receive the Cameroon flag from the hands of the Prime Minister; because of financial matters. This was when the senior male national football team was supposed to leave for the World Cup in Brazil.

In the African continent, we know the contrasting story of the football legend, George Weah and his Liberian national football team. When George Weah was playing professional football in Europe and was also captain of the Liberian national team, there were times that he would single-handedly sponsor the national team to for a match or for a competition, because his beloved country had no money. We can conveniently talk here of George Weah, the Liberian patriot. It was not surprising that Weah later became President of Liberia.

What is not being said about the Cameroon senior male national team, is that players generally make quite some money playing for the team, and the team also gives many of them visibility, and so it is not so much an issue of patriotism on their part. For example, before the Lions left the country for the African Cup of Nations, AFCON, that held in Ivory Coast early this year, each of them, including the local players, had already pocketed 40 million FCFA each as participation allowance paid by the State, at the time that ordinary Cameroonians are dying in misery. More so, the Lions did not perform well at the AFCON. Think about our soldiers who are sacrificing their lives in the Far North Region in defence of father against the terrorist group, Boko Haram. Those are genuine patriots.

Meanwhile, in Cameroon, the economic impact of our former professional football players, especially the legends or icons, that made big money in professional football, is not really being seen or felt. One will not see a big economic project somewhere associated to one of these our many football icons, that has created jobs and is contributing to the development of the country, as would be seen in quite a number of other countries. There is unfortunately no Seydou Keita in Cameroon, despite the fact that the country counts one of the highest numbers of former African professional footballers.

Samuel Eto’o is known to have tried his hands in two businesses in the country, which did not work out well. When Eto’o was still playing professional football, he created Se’t Mobile in Douala. Many people initially thought it was a new mobile telephone company. But it turned out that it was instead an enterprise that was created to do business with Orange Cameroon and MTN Cameroon, precisely in the domain of the distribution of data and airtime. It was a congested sector, and the enterprise did not last long. Samuel Eto’o next created Beto’o, which was an online sports betting enterprise. He said the business would help create jobs for many youths. But he instead received strong criticisms from the public, as many people questioned whether the best thing he could do for Cameroonian youths was to get them into the gambling business. The business too did not last for long.

Alexandre Song, Michael Ngandeu Njadjui and Stephane Mbia Invest In the Education Sector

Happily, at least, is the fact that a few of our former professional football players, and some current players, have been seen to have made some socio–economic investments in the country. Two of our former professional football players and one who is currently still playing professional football, have done an impressive investment in the development of education in Cameroon, even though they are not considered as legends. The three include Alexandre Song, Stephane Mbia and Michael Ngandeu Njadjui. Interesting to see these footballers invest in the development of education in their country.

A former Lion, Alexandre Song, is the Proprietor of Canadian International School and College, while another former Indomitable Lion, Stephane Mbia, is the Proprietor of ‘Complexe Educatif Stephane Mbia’ in Yaounde. Michael Ngandeu Njadjui, who opened the score in the World Cup qualifier clash between Cameroon and Cape Verde in Yaounde on June 8, 2024, is the Proprietor of ‘Groupe Scholaire Bilingue et Moderne Les Futes’ in Douala. All three schools have ultramodern structures, equipment and many other facilities. The institutions owned by Stephane Mbia and Michael Ngandeu are both nursery and primary schools. Stephane Mbia and Michel Ngandeu, recently attended the end-of-year (school year) ceremonies at their different schools in Yaounde and Douala respectively. Worthy of note, is that Michael Ngandeu has also reportedly invested in the agriculture sector. Michael Ngandeu, Stephane Mbia and Alexandre Song are thus also employers, having enabled dozens of Cameroonians to have jobs.

Perhaps the real disappointment is the fact that our football legends and billionaires have also not invested even in the development of football in the country. As a well –known personality in the Cameroon sports domain, Hamadou Baba Abdouraman, who is also the President of Etoile Filante of Garoua says, any former Cameroonian professional football player who truly wants to develop Cameroon football, should either create a football club or buy one and run it. But as of now, only two former professional players, Eugene Ekeke and Maboang Kessack, who also played for the senior male national team, are known to have created football clubs that are registered in leagues run by the Cameroon Football Federation commonly known by the acronym, FECAFOOT. Worth noting that the two are not also among those considered as our football legends.

Eugene Ekeke created a football academy in Douala, which has not only been functioning well, but has been regularly playing in the rugged Littoral Second Division League for a couple of years now. Worth adding that Eugene Ekeke is also the proprietor of a modern and beautiful snack bar – restaurant located on the Boneberi side of banks of the big River Wouri. As for Maboang Kessack, he created a Third Division Club in his locality in the Centre Region.

As for our former professional football players considered legends, their interest appears to be only FEECAFOOT and the Indomitable Lions, where there is money. They are not even involved in the management or in the promotion of their former football local clubs through which they came to the limelight, or even football clubs in their localities of birth. When Bell Joseph Antoine for example retired from professional football in Europe and returned home, he after some time took over the management of a Second Division Club in his area of origin, A S Bambibi, as President. That was a laudable move. But it soon appeared that Bell’s real target was the post of President of FECAFOOT. It should be noted that over the years, it was almost impossible for somebody who had not been a club president or has held a top post in football club, to make any headway to run for the post of President of FECAFOOT. The current President of FECAFOOT, Samuel Eto’o looks like the first person in the last three decades, to have become President of the Federation when he has never been a club president. Meanwhile, when Bell could not make headway in his ambition to become President of FECAFOOT, he abandoned AS Bambibi. Bell has tried a number of times to be President of FECAFOOT, with his last attempt being in 2018, when he was beaten by Seidou Mbombo Njoya. Last year Bell had a presidential appointment. So instead of setting up a project to help create jobs, he has been provided a job.

The celebrated Francois Omam Biyick, whose superb header got Cameroon the 1- 0 win over Diego Maradona’s Argentina in the opening match of the 1990 World Cup, which was held at the San Siro, Milan, Italy on June 8, played professional football in several clubs that included Olympique de Marseille, Racing Club de Lens, State Rennais, Sampdoria among others. Upon his retirement, many thought Omam would either create a football club or will take over the Second Division Club in his locality of birth, Pouma FC, where he and his brother, Kana Biyick, were spotted by the then Coach of the Indomitable Lions, Claude le Roy. But he did not do that. To date, Pouma FC has remained a struggling Second Division Club, while Omam’s interest has been to fight to be or to be maintained as assistant coach of the Lions. As for Samuel Eto’o, he created a football academy in Douala when he was still playing professional football. But the football academy which lasted only a few years, never became a club, and thus never played even in the Third Division League. After going on retirement, Eto’o focused his attention more on FECAFOOT.

Geremie Njitap is another person who made big money in playing professional football. But since he retired from playing professional football and returned home, his impact has neither been felt, nor seen, even on clubs in his locality like Stade Bandjoun FC. Rather Njitap who is currently the President of SYNAFOC, is known to have interest in the post of President of FECAFOOT, and will likely be a candidate in the next FECAFOOT election. There is a lot of money in FECAFOOT. Denis Jules Onana has also had an eye on FECAFOOT, same like Maboang Kessack who withdrew from the 2021 FECAFOOT election to support the candidature of Samuel Eto’o. Another football legend, Patrick Mboma has had an eye of the post of head coach of the Indomitable Lions.

From the look of things thus, Cameroon, unfortunately, does not have a Seydou Keita among its football legends. Many of our football legends like being invited to events outside the country. How good it will be if Seydou Keita was to invite some of them, especially those who played in FC Barcelona like him, to attend the inauguration ceremony of his 14 billion FCFA industrial complex in his country, Mali.

Image credit  (Keita): Reuters