Walter Wilson Nana
Buea, Cameroon
A promise made on February 10 2010 to the Cameroonian youths that is the eve of 11 February 2010, National Youth Day in Cameroon, has come to pass, four years after. This is the creation of a higher institute for football in Cameroon. Thursday, September 25 2014, President Paul Biya signed a Decree, creating a National Football Academy, NFA, in Cameroon.
Coming on the heels of Cameroon’s successful bid to host the African Cup of Nations, AFCON 2019, the putting in place of a National Football Academy is intended to step up Cameroon’s game as the government strategises to equip young footballers, with the increasing demands in the game of football.
President Paul Biya is not only handing a trophy to a youth, he is preparing them for high-level training
According to the Presidential Decree, the National Football Academy has as missions; to initiate and technically prepare the youths for high-level football, to prepare trainers who will handle theoretical and practical issues in football, to develop national expertise on football related issues, to collect, preserve and give out documentation related to football and pursue credible research on football and related issues.
The National Football Academy will be composed of three specialised divisions. These include: the division in charge of football training, the division in charge of professional and technical development of football and the division in charge of research and documentation on football.
The Decree adds that other specialised divisions may be created as the need arises, while the administrative, academic and the details of the functioning of the National Football Academy will be made public in another text.
