ACTUALITE |
02.06.2002
Indomitable Lions bare teeth over marathon voyages
FUJIYOSHIDA
Cameroon`s disgruntled players look set to clash with their federation over the length of trips between World Cup matches and their training base.
The players complained after the 1-1 draw with Ireland that they felt tired after the seven-hour journey to Niigata on the eve of Saturday`s match and did not want to return straight away to their new mountainside retreat in Fujiyoshida.
"Seven hours is far too long," complained Real Madrid star Geremi.
"Since we arrived here we have been having to travel a couple of hours by bus to all our warm-up matches and this trip has taken the biscuit," he added.
Lyon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe was also unhappy with the travel arrangements.
"These length of trips are going to take their toll," said the former West Ham hardman.
The latest travel woes for the African champions come hot on the heels of their extended flight to Asia.
They were first delayed by a dispute over money due to them in bonuses for qualifying for the finals and the plane finally took off from Paris on May 23 and arrived in Bangkok for an unexpected refueling stop after prolonged stopovers in Ethiopia and India.
But by that time, the plane`s pilot realised he did not have permission from Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines to fly over their airspace.
The plane spent seven hours in the Thai capital before it was granted special flyover permission by the three countries.
Cameroon are set to play Saudi Arabia in Saitama on June 6 and round off their group matches against Germany in Shizuoka on June 11.
Previous Cameroon disputes have centred around money with the most serious case in 1994 when they came close to going on strike over non-payment of bonuses, leading exasperated coach Henri Michel to pay them out of his own pocket.
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Hits: 1 | Source:Dailysoccer | |
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