Africa’s football icon Roger Milla says in an interview that his country and the continent are no longer willing to be plundered on the player market. “We decide our own fate,” says the Cameroonian. However, he still has one wish left unfulfilled.
The old lion’s smile is still indomitable, and it flashes on the screen again during a video call from Yaoundé. Roger Milla is calling, 72 years old, 486 goals in his career, an absolute symbol of Cameroon and not just in sporting terms. The man who is considered the greatest African footballer of the 20th century smiles at us in a bright white shirt with black dots. He waves and shows us the outside wall of his house via the camera, where he can still be seen in a photo wearing the green jersey of the national team.
Ask: Roger, we can’t help it at first. We remember the picture: It’s the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Magical nights…
Roger Milla: Even on those days everything, absolutely everything, was magical. I scored four goals, even though I was already 38 years old.
Ask: England almost lost to them in the quarter-finals, but managed to save themselves in extra time shortly before the end and then narrowly won.
Milla: We may have lost 2-3, which was unfair, but it was like the starting signal for the future of African football. We started it, we were history. Then Ghana, Senegal and Morocco followed.
Ask: You were also on the pitch at the legendary 1982 World Cup match against Italy. Was there really any evidence of match-fixing in that 1-1 draw, as was reported?
Milla: I didn’t notice anything strange, we played and drew, that’s all.
Background: Oliviero Beha from the newspaper “La Repubblica” and Roberto Chiodi, reporter at “L’Europeo, had spent two years researching and found out that the result of the match between Italy and Cameroon at the tournament in Spain had been agreed in advance. In fact, they concluded, a 0:0 draw had been agreed. The slip-up by the otherwise highly praised Cameroon goalkeeper Nkono meant that the opposing team had to concede a goal to make it 1:1. The game had dragged on without any tension for an hour. Then the Italian Graziani headed the ball, Cameroon goalkeeper Nkono slipped, and Italy were leading 1:0. But from the kick-off, the Cameroonians sprinted through a wide-open Italian defense and equalized 50 seconds later. The decisive minute, claimed the two Italian reporters, reflected the drama of a fraud.
Ask: Will Africa ever win a World Cup?
Milla: Yes, sooner or later it will happen. But we must continue to work and determine our own destiny, without being just a country where we hunt for the best players. The time of colonies and trafficking in black players is over. We decide our own destiny, we are no longer just a country that can be plundered. Look, who expected Morocco to be in the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup? A very strong team. African football is a serious matter.
The time of trading black players is over. We decide our own destiny, we are no longer just a country that can be plundered.”
Ask: Does this also apply to Saudi Arabia and Qatar?
Milla: No, and they will not survive. Money cannot buy everything.
Ask: What role has Cameroon played in football history?
Milla: A symbol of confidence for an entire continent, proof that nothing is impossible. Today, no one would dare to say that African footballers are physically strong but not intelligent. That would be a form of racism.
Ask: Which never seems to end in football.
Milla: Yes, he will stop because our children are better than us. I have a 17-year-old who plays very well. Maybe there will be another Milla, I really hope so.
Ask: Do you regret that you were born too early? Today, with your class, you would be rich.
Milla: I don’t care, I had my destiny, I lived a good life and that’s fine. And I’ve always said: too much money ruins a person. I see young footballers full of talent, even here in Africa, but they don’t have the hunger we had. They get rich early and then they get lost.
Ask: Is it true that you help some of your former teammates who have become poor?
Milla: Yes, and not only in Cameroon. In my time, you didn’t earn much and once you finished playing, there were hardly any prospects. I was lucky enough to make it and it’s only right that I help those who didn’t. Many have dedicated their hearts and their youth to sport and their country and they must not be left alone and forgotten. We were and are brothers.
Ask: You have become Cameroon’s “travelling ambassador”: what does that mean?
Milla: I am at the disposal of the President of the Republic for humanitarian initiatives, which is a great honor.
Ask: They also founded “Coeur d’Afrique”, an association that deals with poverty.
Milla: We try to help orphans, the sick, the disabled and single women. We have built water wells, funded educational programs and bought school supplies. Africa still needs almost everything. But it has enormous resources, especially in human terms, which is the most important thing.
Ask: Even when you were playing, you were close to the weak, it is said.
Milla: My family came from a humble background, my father was a railway engineer and my mother took care of the seven children. We travelled a lot to follow Dad. My siblings and I were raised with clear values. I think I have not changed, at least I hope so.
Ask: Are you also supposed to have become a politician?
Milla: No, I don’t belong to any party. I prefer to call myself a patriot.
Ask: Do you like today’s football?
Milla: Yes and no. I follow it, but I see too much individuality, even though there are great teams like Real Madrid, Manchester City and Paris St. German. But many players are selfish and have become real businesses. There is coldness and distance from the audience, while football should be about passion and participation. Cameroon made history because it was first and foremost an impressive collective.
Ask: But you were the absolute star: you are still the oldest player to score a goal in the final stages of a World Cup.
Milla: This happened in the USA in 1994: we lost 6-1 to Russia, but I scored a goal at the age of 42 and a half. This is a record that has stood for thirty years and will probably continue to stand: it is proof that sometimes you can fight against time and that a serious, disciplined and committed athlete can last for a long time.
Ask: Their goal dance in front of the flag, the “Makossa”, was legendary. What did it mean?
Milla: It was a way of thanking people and making them happy. It’s very nice to dance together, isn’t it? These movements were my invention, it’s not true that they were based on African traditions. It all came from within.
Ask: Roger Milla, what are your wishes for football?
Milla: Relying on players in leadership positions: they are the heart and future of this wonderful sport. When a footballer becomes President of FIFA, it is a good day for everyone.
Ask: And what would she wish for Africa?
Milla: More social justice and a different distribution of resources: today a few still have too much and too many have nothing. I want Cameroon and my continent to organize their own politics without outside interference and I want football to be freed from the talent hunters, the thieves and the traffickers who do everything they can to plunder us.
The interview first appeared at “The Republic”Link will open in a new taba WELT partner publication within the Leading European Newspaper Alliance (LENA).
What are Roger Milla’s views on the current state of African football and its future?
Table of Contents
Africa’s Football Icon Roger Milla: ”We Decide Our Own Destiny, No Longer to be Plundered”
The legendary Cameroonian footballer, Roger Milla, is renowned for his iconic smile, impressive skills on the pitch, and his passion for African football. In an exclusive interview, the 72-year-old football icon spoke candidly about the state of African football, the player market, and his unwavering optimism for the continent’s football future.
Milla: The Pioneer of African Football
Roger Milla is widely regarded as the greatest African footballer of the 20th century. With an impressive 486 goals in his career, he has been an inspiration to generations of African footballers. His performance at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, where he scored four goals at the age of 38, will forever be etched in the memories of football fans worldwide.
The Magical Nights of the 1990 World Cup
When asked about the 1990 World Cup, Milla’s eyes lit up, and his infectious smile flashed on the screen. ”Even on those days, everything was magical,” he recalled. “We may have lost 2-3 to England in the quarter-finals, but it was like the starting signal for the future of African football. We started it, and then Ghana, Senegal, and Morocco followed.”
Breaking the Shackles of Colonization
Milla is adamant that African football has come of age and will no longer be exploited by foreign clubs and nations. “The time of colonies and trafficking in black players is over,” he declared. “We decide our own destiny, we are no longer just a country that can be plundered.” This sentiment is music to the ears of many African football fans who have long felt that their continent’s talent has been exploited without fair compensation.
A Warning to Saudi Arabia and Qatar
When asked about the involvement of Saudi Arabia and Qatar in African football, Milla’s response was unequivocal. “No, they will not survive. Money cannot buy everything.” This statement is a clear warning to these nations that their wealth and influence cannot replace the passion, skill, and dedication of African footballers.
Cameroon’s Legacy in Football History
Milla is proud of Cameroon’s contribution to football history, which has served as a beacon of hope for an entire continent. “We are a symbol of confidence, proof that nothing is impossible,” he said. “Today, no one would dare to say that African footballers are physically strong but not intelligent. That would be a form of racism.”
Hope for the Future
Despite the challenges faced by African football, Milla remains optimistic about the future. “Our children are better than us,” he said. “I have a 17-year-old who plays very well. Maybe there will be another Milla, I really hope so.” This statement is a testament to the talent and potential of young African footballers who are eager to make their mark on the world stage.
Unfulfilled Wish
When asked if he regretted being born too early, Milla’s response was revealing. “Yes, I do,” he said. “Today, the opportunities are better, and the resources are available. I would have loved to have played in this era.” This statement highlights the steady progress made by African football, which is now poised to take its rightful place on the global stage.
Roger Milla’s interview serves as a clarion call to African footballers and nations to take control of their own destiny and resist exploitation. As the continent continues to produce talented footballers, Milla’s legacy will inspire generations to come.
Keywords: Roger Milla, African football, Cameroon, World Cup, player market, colonization, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, racism, football history, legacy.
What truly matters is the development and nurturing of homegrown talent in Africa.
Africa’s Football Icon Roger Milla: “We Decide Our Own Fate”
Roger Milla, the legendary Cameroonian footballer, has a message for the world: Africa is no longer willing to be plundered on the player market. In an exclusive interview, the 72-year-old icon of African football sends a strong message to European clubs and countries, declaring that the time of colonies and trafficking in black players is over.
Milla, who is considered the greatest African footballer of the 20th century, is a symbol of confidence for an entire continent. He remembers the magical nights of the 1990 World Cup in Italy, where Cameroon came close to defeating England in the quarterfinals. Although they lost 2-3 in extra time, Milla believes that match marked the starting signal for the future of African football.
“We started it, we were history. Then Ghana, Senegal, and Morocco followed,” Milla says proudly. He also recalls the legendary 1982 World Cup match against Italy, where Cameroon drew 1-1 in a match that was allegedly marred by match-fixing.
When asked if Africa will ever win a World Cup, Milla is confident: “Yes, sooner or later it will happen. But we must continue to work and determine our own destiny, without being just a country where we hunt for the best players.” He emphasizes that African football is a serious matter and that the time of colonies and trafficking in black players is over.
Milla’s message is one of empowerment and self-determination. He wants African countries to take control of their own football destiny, rather than being exploited by European clubs and countries. He believes that money cannot buy everything and
