Crystal Palace are hoping to form a partnership with the Football Federation in Cameroon to improve the standard in the country at a national and community level.

Eagles chief executive Phil Alexander has met with officials in the African nation, including Fecafoot president Tombi A Roko Sidiki.

President wants to put plans into action

During their meeting, Roko Sidiki presented an 11-point action plan with the aim of changing the fortunes of the football federation in Cameroon, and one of his ideas is to construct artificial pitches in a total of seven regions of the country.

When speaking about the new partnership, Alexander said that one of the main aims of it will be to help the national team achieve something in the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup.

He also said that he wanted Palace to be proud that they do things differently to other clubs, and that they want to help the federation use “the best practices with performance staff, coaches, the communication team and marketing.”

Winning new fans in Africa

There have been a number of Cameroonian players in the Premier League, such as Samuel Eto'o and Alex Song. Photo: goal.com
There have been a number of Cameroonian players in the Premier League, such as Samuel Eto'o and Alex Song. Photo: goal.com

The chief executive also felt that as a “small and growing club”, Palace could “win the hearts and minds of so many Cameroonians who follow the Premier League”, and maybe have a Cameroonian player at the club in the future.

Cameroonians past and present 

Up until 2014, a total of 24 Cameroonian players had represented clubs in the Premier League since the Marc-Vivien Foe made his debut for West Ham against Wimbledon in 1999, making 1,351 appearences in total.

Players such as LaurenBenoit Assou-EkottoGeremiSebastien Bassong and Alex Song, who still plays in England with West Ham, all became keys players for clubs such as Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, all making over 100 Premier League appereances, and the Eagles chief executive Alexander will be hoping they can attract Cameroonians to make Palace their long term home in the future. 

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