Rigobert Song, the former coach of the Indomitable Lions, has lashed out his successor Marc Brys for statements he made during a recent interview, asking the Belgian to show respect for Cameronian football icons.
In a viral statement on social media, Rigobert Song opposes Brys’ “derogatory” “insults” made towards himself and the President of the Cameroon Football Federation, Samuel Eto’o.
“I believe that for my entire career I deserve respect. I respect everyone and I demand respect for myself in return,” Song wrote.
“Mr Brys, who is continuing the reconstruction and renewal project that we have initiated, is expected on the ground, and not in the newspapers, as part of the qualifiers for the 2025 CAN and the 2026 World Cup.
“The history of Cameroonian football was written thanks to our icons. They deserve Respect and Recognition,” Song added, referring to himself and Samuel Eto’o.
The former teamates are highly regarded in the Cameroonian football landscape and have both played together in the national team and served as football administrators.
Marc Brys, who has been in disarray with Eto’o since his appointment in April, accused Eto’o of teleguiding the national football team during Song’s coaching reign.
In an interview published by the Belgian print media organ Dhnet on August 17, Brys is quoted describing Song as Eto’o’s “weather vane”.
“I am 62 years old, an age at which we tell people the truth, to help them evolve.
“My predecessor Rigobert Song was his weather vane and had nothing to say. Eto’o would come into the locker room before the match and during the break and he would change the team from A to Z.
“The players felt tyrannized, it was a total farce. In such an environment, we should not have expected Cameroon to achieve the performances expected of it,” Marc Brys said.
Song denied Brys’ claims about Eto’o teleguiding Indomitable Lion players.
He stated: “I do not remember seeing him once in the locker room or during a training session during my tenure as manager-selector of the Indomitable Lions.”
Song added that he assumed full decision-making responsibility in the national team during his mandate.
Marc Brys’ outing came after a period of quietude, following a heated rift between the Ministry of Sports and the Cameroon Football Federation, concerning the new coach’s appointment.
Eto’o, the FA President, strongly opposed Brys’ appointment and has refused to recognize him as coach.
Despite resisting instructions from the football federation and publicly quarrelling with Eto’o, Marc Brys refrained from making any public statement about the rift.
His recent outburst, according to Song, does not convey maturity.
“Mr. Brys is indeed at an age where moderation and restraint in speaking are essential in line with the values conveyed by our sport.
“There is no need to resort to insults and use derogatory remarks, especially towards people we do not know, for things that are foreign to us and that we have not experienced,” said Song.
While Marc Brys’ interview continues to make waves on the Cameroonian media space, there has been no public reaction yet from the Ministry of Sports and the football federation.
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