Why Marc Vivien Foe’s legacy is in tatters
A sculpture of the late Cameroonian footballer Marc Vivien Foe at the entrance of his Complex covered by grass. PHOTO | NDI EUGENE NDI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Foe’s the tomb looked clean on Thursday morning as his memorial was being prepared.
- But the surrounding part of the complex has been transformed into farmland while the football field is overgrown with vegetation and an abode for wild animals like snakes.
- The regime might have forgotten about Foe and his legacy, but memories of the midfielder still resonate in the minds of football lovers.
Seventeen years since legendary Cameroonian midfielder, Marc Vivien Foe died while playing football for his country, the government has yet to deliver on promises made to his family.
The Cameroonian government promised to help the family including financially during the burial of the great midfielder in 2003.
Voe was buried in the middle of a four hectare sport complex he had been building in the Biteng neighbourhood in the Cameroonian capital.
Every year, the family organises a memorial service on June 26 in honour of Foe.
Mbida Foe Tobie, the late footballer’s paternal uncle, said the project has remained at the level where it was when Foe died.
“Nothing has improved here at the complex since Marco left us,” said Foe Tobie.
The project was conceived as a state-of the-art sporting complex and was to contain a football field, handball pitch, athletics track, Olympic-sized swimming pool, gymnasium, and tennis courts. It is now in ruins.
Today, a once very bright and attractive sculpture of Foe that welcomes visitors at the entrance of the complex is slowly being covered by grass just like the once eye-catching building which is now a pale shadow of itself.
Its occupants are a few family members and some squatters. Part of the edifice now hosts police.
Foe Tobie said the police station was created there at the behest of the family as the complex was fast turning into a haven for criminals as the family had been struggling to maintain and sustain the project.
Foe’s the tomb looked clean on Thursday morning as his memorial was being prepared.
But the surrounding part of the complex has been transformed into farmland while the football field is overgrown with vegetation and an abode for wild animals like snakes.
The regime might have forgotten about Foe and his legacy, but memories of the midfielder still resonate in the minds of football lovers.
Social media has been awash with tributes for the fallen hero on the 17th anniversary of his demise.
Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) president, Seidou Mbombo Njoya in a tweet said he died defending the colours of the nation and “he will remain in our hearts forever.”
Former footballer, Roger Milla tweeted: “continue to rest in peace, Marc Vivien Foe”.
