"Work hard to sustain progress of African football" - Njitap

Kumasi, Jan. 22, GNA - The midfielder of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, Geremi Njitap has hailed the systematic progress of African football and urged stakeholders of the sport to work hard to sustain the trend.

He said the continent abounds in a lot of talents and potentials, citing the presence of a host of African players in the major leagues in Europe, and stressed that it was high time such potentials were tapped and utilized for the benefit of the continent.

In an interview with the GNA Sports in Kumasi on Tuesday, Njitap appealed to officials of the various Football Associations (FA's) to collaborate effectively with corporate bodies on the continent and abroad in attracting the necessary investment to develop the African game.

This, he said, would help develop the game to an appreciable standard to enhance the growth of basic infrastructure in the various countries.

Touching on the on-going 26th African Cup of Nations (CAN 2008) tournament, the Cameroonian midfielder commended the participating teams for the high standard of play they had so far exhibited. Njitap said much as the Indomitable Lions were not afraid of any opposition, it would enter each match with all the seriousness it deserves to enable the team achieve its goals.

Cameroon, he said, was a household name in African soccer and decried the abysmal performance put up by the team in the last two competitions, adding that those tournaments had taught the team many lessons and was therefore poised for action in this year's tournament. 22 Jan. 08