Stakeholders submitted proposals on August 27, 2014, on revamping the game following instructions by President Paul Biya.

Cameroon’s Professional Football League, which was launched in 2011, has undertaken its task with much difficulty; visibly failing to transform the once-cherished and widely-practised game into professionalism. The 2014 Brazilian FIFA World Cup debacle spoke much of the need to overhaul the soccer machinery for rebirth.

In reaction, the Head of State’s instruction for the creation of a veritable football professional league prompted a brainstorming meeting hosted from 25 to 27 August, 2014, by the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education in Yaounde. The seriousness of issues discussed justified the presence of associations of business leaders, companies, public partners as well as associations of clubs, footballers and journalists.

Discussions also underlined the necessity to involve all stakeholders in the process to professionalise Cameroonian football and league. Besides painting a gloomy picture of playgrounds that do not respect FIFA norms, the participants blamed the difficulty in organising professional league matches to clubs’ lack of land. Thus, while they recommended the involvement of local councils to upgrade existing playgrounds and forge agreements with clubs, they also saw the possibility of clubs acquiring land with the assistance of the National Housing Loan Scheme and FEICOM.

To curb the falling performance of players, it was recommended that each club be well-established with headquarters, sports infrastructure and sponsors, while the technical aspects in the organisation of professional football have to be at the centre of the expected the professionalisation process for Cameroonian football to re-emerge.

Direct financing by FECAFOOT, financial assistance from TV live match broadcasting royalties, image rights, sponsoring contracts, as well as ticket sales revenue, were identified as main sources of financing. Even though they saw the need for government to pursue the provision of direct subventions begun in 2011 when the Cameroon Professional Football League was launched.

Concerning popular commitment to soccer events and communication, the stakeholders recommended aggressive marketing by soccer authorities to attract more fans to playgrounds. The proposals, which have already been submitted, were received with approval as soccer supporters anxiously look forward to a renaissance of Cameroonian football.