By George Esunge Fominyen
The word legend which generally refers to a literary genre consisting of stories between myth and history, is also used in our every day conversation to describe someone with larger –than-life accomplishments whose fame is well-known. With back-to-back gold medal wins at the Olympics (2004 and 2008) Francoise Mbango Etone, has surely made it into that select club of Cameroonian legends. The story of the hurdles she skipped on the way to golden glory is an epitome of the unpredictability and paradox of Cameroonian sporting successes and failures.
One week before the Beijing Olympic Games started, it seemed Francoise Mbango would not make it to the competition. She had reportedly threatened to boycott the games unless the government paid the remainder of the money they had promised her after she won gold at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004. Faced with the inconvenience of losing a potential gold medal winner (whose success could be used for political ends), the government is said to have bowed and paid the girl. It was widely speculated in the Team Cameroon that she even negotiated a “good package” in the event of her winning the gold medal at these Games (which she has achieved).
The government apart, Francoise’s preparation for the Beijing Games were tainted by a strenuous relationship with Cameroon’s Athletics federation. She was suspended by the federation for indiscipline when she failed to turn up for the All Africa Games in Algiers in 2007; after reportedly pocketing the participation fees. Angered by the Olympic Champion’s supposed nonchalance towards their authority, the federation attempted to bar her from attending the 2008 national athletics championships. They even threatened not to register her for the African Athletics Championships that took place in Ethiopia in May 2008. Following sustained pressure from the ministry of sport, the media and some even say the Presidency, the federation entered her name for the contest.
The Cameroonian Paradox
Elsewhere, this is tantamount to botched-up preparation for any top international athlete. He/she would be expected to fail. Well, that is the paradox of Cameroon. Francoise Mbango traveled to Addis Abeba and won gold at the Triple Jump event. Whereas most persons were expecting her to be Cameroon’s flag bearer at the opening parade, the role was handed to judo athlete -Frank Moussima (Judo). Did you say another psychological storm? She overcame all of that and leaped 15m39 (just 11cm shy of the world record) to win the gold medal at Beijing. It is a new Olympic Triple Jump record!
Curiously, here is someone who had hardly participated at any major event since her Gold Medal in Athens. First she had taken to studies, then she found love, then she had a baby and then she started having trouble with the athletics federation in addition to on and off spats with the government over partly-met promises. Moreover, she hails from a country that has no standard sport infrastructure for her discipline. Yet, over the years she has twice won silver (1998, 2002) at the Commonwealth Games, emerged second at the World Athletics Championships in Edmonton (2003) and Paris (2003).
Francoise Mbango is not the only sporting success that is the result of a paradoxical preparation “a la camerounaise”. When the Lions won the Gold Medal in Sydney in 2000, it seems most of their spare time was spent on negotiating their bonuses. It took the sense of purpose of some of team members who had come for glory and not money to lead the pack to success. The 2008 squad reportedly appeared at the stadium only 40 minutes to the start of the first game against Korea because they were arguing over bonuses with officials. They managed to reach the quarter finals and failed only after taking favorites Brazil to extra-time while playing 10 against 11 men.
The Cameroonian Mystique
The Cameroonian mystique that turns dodgy organization into golden glory lies in the fierce determination, will-power, ambition; pride and never -say –die attitude of the country’s competitors. Having spent a little time in the corridors of the national football team (as a reporter), I have seen first-hand how they motivate themselves. A match is a do or die matter which has to be fought to the end, regardless of whether the preparation was good or bad. It is the sort of spirit that got the Indomitable Lions to the final of the last Africa Cup of Nations without having played a real friendly game; only working with their newly appointed coach for 10 days and after being walloped 4-1 in their first game.
Consequently, it is absurd predicting any Cameroonian success. For example, after the 2004 Games observers expected Francoise Mbango to ride on the crest of her Olympic triumph to challenge for the World title in 2005 or 2007, she failed to show up. Whereas very few analysts suggested thought she could make it to the top again,Francoise Mbango has won the Olympic Gold Medal in Beijing.
Her football playing compatriots are also full of surprises. When most pundits thought the team would produce a superb performance at the 2002 football World Cup, they got involved in strikes over bonuses and were bundled out of the competition in the first round. In June 2008, FC Barcelona’s new coach Pep Guardiola announced that Samuel Eto’o was surplus to requirement; he wanted him gone. By mid-August Eto’o had emerged Barcelona’s pre-season highest scorer and had signed a two year contract extension with a pay increase.
As I watched Mbango leap into history books on Sunday 17 August 2008, my heart jumped with joy but my mind sighed at the paradox of it all. What an aberration that Mbango cannot find a worthy place to train in Cameroon? Is it normal that the Indomitable lions cannot host an international friendly at home because there is no infrastructure? I felt proud to see Francoise running about wrapped in the Green, Red, Yellow and golden Star flag. Certainly those who have been running sports in Cameroon were also filled with pride. But aren't they embarrassed that Cameroon always makes itself heard first through newspaper gossip columns at every big tournament courtesy of stories about bonus and wage disputes? There is potential in Cameroon for many more legends like Francoise Mbango. They could even reap more than one gold medal at every Olympic Games. All that is needed is better organization and an end to amateurism. But when will that be?
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