This was after a series of meetings between the players and some Cameroon top ranking football officials in Durban. «In every house there are misunderstandings. I have no personal problem with Samuel Eto’o and any other player in the team. All what is said here and there is nurtured and ventilated by people around the team. We are human beings, what is important now is to focus on Saturday’s encounter.” These are words from the Indomitable Lion’s midfielder Achille Emana during a press conference yesterday at the Oyster Box Hotel in Durban. Flanked by fellow team mates, Nicolas Nkoulou and Gaetan Bong, the three Lions told pressmen that they are very conscious of the importance of Saturday’s encounter.

On the lack of enough communication which has led to the Lions conceding eight goals in five matches, Nicolas Nkoulou said, there is constant communication with other players at the defense, what happens is just errors that can be committed in every football encounter. They are working hard and hope to remedy the situation come Saturday. He added that he does not have any personal player with whom he likes playing at the defense. What is important is that the team should win no matter who plays.

Gaetan Bong, who did not future in the first encounter, added that, it is the coach who decides who to play, where and when.

On why they keep complaining to the media about their too cumbersome entourage, but never asked the minister and authorities of the Cameroon Football Federation to reduce the number of officials, Achille Emana said, he has personally told members of his family and friends to stay away from the camping ground because their presence instead contributes negatively to his output and that it is left for the others to do same and decision makers should take their responsibilities.

It should be noted that, the press conference comes on the heels of a several of Meetings between the players and Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Michel Zoah. According to an official who requested anonymity, an atmosphere of mutual suspicion has been prevailing among the players. This had divided the team into three camps. The so called “1984”, “Les Durs” and “Les Blancs”. While the “1984” do work-hand-in-glove with the coach by dictating who should play, the “Les Durs” are indifferent. This has even resulted in some of them not talking to the technical staff especially the coach. The minister’s meeting with the different groups, was to put order in the house, the official concluded.

To show prove of the return of serenity in the house, captain Samuel Eto’o, who sat at the press conference as a spectator, at the end walked towards his team mates and gave an accolade to each of them. The Lions will leave for Pretoria today where they will grant another press conference.