Cameroon hint at new deal for coach Schafer (16.06.2002)
Cameroon FA president Iya Mohamed has promised changes after the national side`s World Cup elimination, but hinted that coach Winfried Schafer could get a new deal.
"We should avoid always swapping coaches, otherwise we are continually back to square one," he said.
Schafer`s head was thought to be on the block after Cameroon were knocked out by their defeat to Germany on Tuesday. His contract expires at the end of the month and Mohamed will wait until then before discussing his options.
"We`ll discuss his contract later," he said. "I think Schafer deserves a holiday. All of us need some rest. Don`t forget the World Cup is still on, even though Cameroon are out.
"After his leave, together with the ministry of youth and sports, we`ll reflect on the decision to make. Before that, I can safely say he has a positive balance-sheet."
Schafer led Cameroon to
African Nations Cup glory in Mali earlier this year, but his side`s chances in the Far East were badly compromised by a players` strike over bonuses which delayed their departure from Paris.
Mohamed accepted that Cameroon`s preparations had not been ideal. "We should absolutely avoid the Paris situation happening again," he said.
"From now on, the agreement between players and managers on their payments should be written down. This should be done well ahead of any competition.
"We should also learn the lessons from our defeat and try to review the composition of the team. Some players have demonstrated their limits and should leave.
"Everybody should be more responsible. Those who have to pay players` bonuses [the government] should do it on time. Every player and coach should be aware of his responsibility. Each one of us is now called to avoid this waste in future."
