Milla explains why he refused to travel to Brazil

Former Indomitable Lions’ striker and Roving Ambassador, Roger Milla, has said he refused to join the national team – the Indomitable Lions, to Brazil because FECAFOOT treated him like a little boy.

Milla blasted the Joseph Owona-led FECAFOOT Normalization Committee, saying that it is because the committee is badly managed that he does not want his name associated with anything organized by the committee.

The former ace lion in separate interviews with three local French language daily newspapers, Le Jour, Le Messager and Mutations, revealed that he was offered 4MFCFA as transport fare to Brazil, but he turned down the offer not only because the amount was too small, but also because of the way the money was given.

“They cannot just call me one blessed morning to come and stand in a cue to collect 4MFCFA from a cashier.” He said. Milla said the gesture was provocative and humiliating on the part of FECAFOOT. “What is four million francs?” He questioned. “They treated me like a little boy.”

He questioned why he was offered only 4million FCFA for the trip when directors from ministries were getting 15million francs, whereas he was the number 2 personality in the delegation, as roving Ambassador. Reports say there were 100 civil servants in the delegation selected from different ministries to sell the image of Cameroon in Brazil.

The Roving Ambassador was also critical of the fact that some officials traveled with their girlfriends, some with their boyfriends while others took along their friends in the plane that was chartered for football officials. He condemned the fact that some important officials were left behind while some whom he qualified as undeserving, traveled with the team.

Denying that it was not because of monetary issues that he turned down the FECAFOOT offer, the football icon said he has never received money from the sports ministry since the reign of Bidoung Mpkatt at the helm of the ministry. Talking about the Lions’ strike over match bonuses, Milla said they were right.

He said it is unfair that children sweat on the field and when money comes in because of their suffering on the pitch, someone else pockets it. He said no one should say they were unpatriotic because to him those who are unpatriotic are those who want to eat while others work.

He, however, said that though he did not travel to Brazil, he is with them in spirit and supports them with all his heart.