Claude Le Roy prides himself on being the opposite of what he calls “the Club Med coaches”. He has worked in Africa for over four decades, and for most of that time he has lived in Africa – as have his family. He laughs when European coaches talk about the pressure of their job.
“It is nothing,” said Le Roy. “They make me laugh. Let them try Africa.”
There are all the usual problems to deal with – players who need firm management and frequent encouragement, engaging with an often hostile local media, organising effective training camps, finding reliable and capable assistants, picking the right team and formation, building team spirit, earning respect...
But then there is so much more, such as the lack of resources, of professional administrators who can make things happen. There is political interference from government officials. There are long and often unsuccessful attempts to persuade players of dual nationality to choose Africa over Europe.
And, when it comes to tournament time, there is the Confederation of African Football.
“Look at this place,” said the Frenchman at the Hotel Carmen in Bata, where he has masterminded Congo’s remarkable achievement of winning Group A at the Cup of Nations. “Do you see any Caf officials here? They’ll be at the Hilton. People don’t like me for criticising, but that doesn’t stop me.”
The Carmen is a basic local hotel, upmarket by Bata standards but a two-star, at best, in Europe. Meanwhile Caf’s executive members – who like to call each other “your Excellency” – always have the most expensive five-star hotels.
Le Roy was furious with Caf after the first game of the tournament, a 1-1 draw with hosts Equatorial Guinea. Congo were given no police escort to the stadium and were stuck in traffic on a bus without air conditioning, in 90F heat, for more than an hour.
Congo started slowly but improved. They won their next two games, and play the Congolese derby on Saturday – Congo-Brazzaville against DR Congo – for a place in the semi-finals. Nobody expected them to qualify for the tournament, never mind for the knockout stages.
“Many people thought it inconceivable that Congo would qualify, with South Africa and the champions, Nigeria, in our group. But South Africa went, and now we have eliminated the team (Nigeria) beat in the final, Burkina Faso. I am so proud.”
Le Roy shouted so many instructions in the 2-1 win against Burkina Faso that he lost his voice. When he recovered he said, “We are the only team in the competition without even one player who has played in the Cup of Nations before. Congo hasn’t been in the tournament for 15 years.”
GOAL.COM
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