BCM ‘agent’ in Cameroon to ‘tie up loose ends’

Written by Eugene N. Nforngwa

Tuesday, 29 December 2009 20:54

BUFFALO City 2010 World Cup organisers are optimistic that African soccer giants Cameroon will make East London their base camp for the Fifa World Cup next year.

They have even sent a “lobbyist” to convince that country’s government that the Eastern Cape city is their best choice.

The agent, appointed by Buffalo City Municipality (BCM) to tie up some “loose ends” following an earlier delegation visit, arrived in Cameroon last Saturday.

A BCM delegation made up of Executive Mayor Zukisa Faku, director in the mayor’s office Vuyo Zambodla and 2010 project manager Roy Young went to Yaounde earlier this month to try to coax the country’s football authorities to make East London their base camp.

Young said: “Our guy is in Cameroon. He landed on Saturday. Cameroon has the Africa Cup of Nations starting on January 10 and they want to sort this out as soon as possible.”

He said local media have also played a vital role in their quest to lure the Indomitable Lions to East London.

“The media is definitely going to add value. We made a presentation to the minister of sport and his committee and the president of the Cameroon Football Association.

“We are very optimistic. We are the only city that has approached them. But it’s more than just the 2010 World Cup. It’s also about building relations and the exchange of culture, and things like education,” said Young.

However, the Cameroon government is yet to make a final decision .

The strategy to host Cameroon – which boasts superstars Samuel Eto’o from Italy’s Inter Milan and Geremi Njitap of English team Newcastle United – was in line with BCM’s 2010 Legacy project.

Young said the government “called the shots” in Cameroon, but everyone was working together to make sure things happened.

“The agent or lobbyist is busy right now. He’s just going to tie up some loose ends. We are also busy planning on this side. Cameroon will be coming here as well .”

Zambodla said it was now beyond their powers and they were just waiting and hoping.

Earlier this month the Blue Lagoon Hotel in Beacon Bay confirmed that three countries had shown an interest in being based in East London during the World Cup.

These included Australia, Italy and Slovakia, which had flown representatives to the city to inspect available infrastructure and training grounds.