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Journalism of Courage
Cheers of celebration turned to screams of disbelief in Cameroon on Thursday as news of midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe’s death followed the team’s victory in the Confederations Cup semi-final.
Several people collapsed and had to be taken to hospital in the capital while thousands hurried home from bars where they had been watching the game as the streets emptied quickly.
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Confed Cup to be foe cup?
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“We have already had a proposal that the next Confederations Cup would bear his name. It is an excellent idea which we will study,” Sepp Blatter, the President of world soccer’s ruling body, said on Friday. Speaking after meeting the Cameroon squad, Blatter said Sunday’s final gainst France would take place despite Foe’s death. “They all agreed, they even applauded – they want to play this final,” he told reporters. “I asked ‘what would make Foe happy now – if he knew that you were in the final, would he have applauded?’. At that moment, everybody burst into applause. Story continues below this ad |
State television said President Paul Biya had sent a message of condolence to the family of Foe, who collapsed 18 minutes from the end of the African champions’ 1-0 semi-final victory over Colombia.
“For a moment we were so happy, but then there was crying in the streets, crying in the districts and crying in the towns. Everywhere there was crying,” said civil servant Martha Chinda. “We are all in mourning.” For most fans, Foe’s death made Sunday’s final against France an irrelevance. “This is just too much of a sacrifice,” said Meh Zang, owner of an Internet cafe.
National mourning
Cameroon is planning a national day of mourning for Marc-Vivien Foe. ‘‘A national day of mourning will be made to remember this player of ours,’’ said Prince Noki Nukete of Cameroon Football Association.
