Why Cameroon Sacked Seedorf As Indomitable Lions’ Coach
By Amaechi Agbo
The Cameroon Football Federation sacked coach Clarence Seedorf and assistant Patrick Kluivert on Tuesday, the pair paying the price for the defending champions’ last 16 exit at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Cameroon crashed out 3-2 to Nigeria last Saturday, an exit the federation described as “premature” in its statement.
Former Dutch international Seedorf won just three of nine competitive games after taking over the Indomitable Lions alongside Kluivert last August.
The federation are now hunting for a manager to prepare the national side for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations which they are hosting.
During a frank interview with state media CRTV on Monday, the Minister of Sports and Physical Education Narcisse Mouelle Kombi has hinted.
Prof. Narcisse drew a balance sheet of the team’s participation at the competition before hinting at the exit of the technical bench headed by Clarence Seedorf.
Narcisse Mouelle Kombi who had hard words towards the Dutchman said he was unable to instil discipline within the team during the competition.
He accused Seedorf of being unable to manage the group an instil the fighting spirit while also highlighting differences between the coach and his assistants which made their working relationship difficult.
With the present state of affairs, the Minister said it will be difficult for Clarence Seedorf to continue as head coach of the Indomitable Lions and said instructions have been given to the President of Fecafoot to analyse the severance clauses in Seedorf’s contract before a decision can be taken.
This, he said would open a new page chapter in the national team and pave the way for reforms at all levels of the men’s national football team.
Here are the other reasons why Clarence Seedorf will be kicked out:
1) Cameroon’s exit from the AFCON in the round of 16 is the Worse performance from any Cameroon team that have entered the AFCON as defending Champions.
2) Petrus Boumal’s recent outing about of the choices of the Dutch coach showed signs that made him lost control of his dressing room.
3) Seedorf illogical choices in the cause of picking his AFCON squad and unfortunately the players he trusted didn’t deliver, an indication that his vision was poor. Cameroon lost in the 16th final hugely because a holding midfielder in Mandjeck Georges was replaced by his colleague who couldn’t do the same job.
4, Another the fact that he disagreed with Patrick Kluivert according to the minister and Kluivert has announced he wants to be a head coach and no longer an assistant
5) His immeasurable arrogance towards the Cameroon media especially before his departure for the AFCON and history have shown that any coach that lost the support of the Cameroon media losses his job within a short time.Volke Finke, Hugo Broos, Javier Clemente, Paul Leguen are examples.
6, His poor win rate of 33% win in 12 games is unacceptable by Cameroon’s standard.
7, Clarence Seedorf does not hold the local league in high esteem .
8) Clarence Seedorf has been at the helm of 3 club’s before managing Cameroon; A.C Milan, Shenzhen, Deportivo La Carunia – all ended in a complete mess, most notably the relegation of Deportivo the the Spanish second-tier. The minister of Sports in a recent outing described his style of play as monotonous and unconvincing
9) Coaches who have not returned to Cameroon after a Competition have gone for good.
10) Clarence Seedorf is not remorseful and fails to accept anything he does wrong.
With a haul of four Champions League wins, five national titles and a host of individual awards, Seedorf, a former AC Milan and Real Madrid midfielder enjoyed a decorated career on the pitch.
But his transition into management has come with a steep learning curve.
Failures with Milan and Chinese club Shenzhen, relegation with Deportivo La Coruna and early elimination with Cameroon have clouded his reputation.