Cameroon manager Hugo Broos believes only a win against Australia can give them hope of progressing in the Confederations Cup. <\/p>\n
ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA -- Hugo Broos' prematch news conference had been a standard affair lacking in particularly strong lines until, just before things wrapped up, events took a turn. The Cameroon manager was asked, facetiously, whether he would please remember that Thursday's Group B match against Australia kicks off at 6 p.m. local time -- in light of the fact that his team had arrived 45 minutes behind schedule for their first training session in St Petersburg on Tuesday and then half an hour late for Wednesday's news conference. <\/p>\n
\"It's not our fault,\" Broos said, his face darkening, before pointing out that Cameroon had also arrived an hour late to the stadium in Moscow, where they faced Chile. \"Maybe the organisation team must review the way teams are transferred to and from the venues. I was extremely annoyed and from that point of view I think things must be reviewed.\" <\/p>\n
It was the first real suggestion of infrastructural elements faltering at this Confederations Cup and Broos was happy -- in full earshot of FIFA media officers -- to elaborate during a conversation with ESPN FC after he had addressed his audience. The crux of his anger was that the means of guiding his squad through heavy traffic -- a particularly time-honoured problem in Moscow -- to their destinations was insufficient. <\/p>\n
\"There's only one police car in front of your bus and it's just following the traffic,\" he said. \"It's not just the fact that you then get to training an hour later -- it means that everything gets put back an hour. So yesterday we had to eat our evening meal at 10 p.m. and it's too late. It's something they need to do something about next year when all the big countries are here [for the World Cup]. <\/p>\n
\"We said to the people from FIFA at our hotel that it's unbelievable and we can't accept it. It was the second time. I know there is much traffic here -- it's a disaster. Even in Africa we get straight to the stadium. I hope they will learn from it otherwise there will be a big problem next year.\" <\/p>\n
Given the distances involved in Russia and the amount of moving around that a successful campaign next year could entail -- a team that reaches the final could conceivably play at six different venues, all hundreds of miles apart -- it is vital that things run smoothly and clearly something is not working. Teams' schedules are tight and Broos said the knock-on effect for his party was \"really unpleasant.\" <\/p>\n
A FIFA spokesperson said that the issue was a local one, explaining: \"FIFA is committed to providing all teams participating in the FIFA Confederations Cup with the best possible conditions. However, specific matters related to local transport fall under the scope of the LOC [local organising committee] which has sent a message of apology to FECAFOOT [the Cameroon FA].\" Any impact on Cameroon's campaign remains to be seen -- though they also fell victim to another glitch in the buildup to what may be a decisive game for their tournament. <\/p>\n
Neither they nor Australia were allowed to train on the St Petersburg Stadium pitch, as would be standard the day before a fixture. The revolutionary, sliding surface was relaid for a second time earlier this month after some high-profile problems and -- while it held up well enough in the opening game when Russia played New Zealand -- they are required to give it as much respite as possible. Both teams were due to practice at other venues on Wednesday evening. <\/p>\n
These are all inconveniences that can make a difference when they stack up, but the overall vibe around Cameroon has been positive. They were well-beaten by Chile but Broos was happy enough with their performance. <\/p>\n
\"If we show the same spirit and way of playing as we did against Chile, and we don't qualify for the semifinals, I won't be disappointed,\" he said. <\/p>\n
Cameroon have also taken heart from the way they have been received in Russia. Up to 250 supporters have reportedly travelled from the African country -- along with eight journalists -- and, while there had been a few negative preconceptions back home following some high-profile instances of racism in Russia, there have been no flashpoints so far. <\/p>\n
\"I haven't seen any evidence of that since I arrived,\" says Leopold Tchatchouang, a journalist from the La Symbiose newspaper. \"The people have all been very kind and open; the only difficulty here is the language.\" <\/p>\n
One group of Cameroon fans, momentarily lost on a Moscow street and puzzling over a Cyrillic-alphabet map when looking for their hotel, were saved further confusion when a local couple stopped their car, asked if they required assistance, ordered them a taxi to their destination and then paid for it. <\/p>\n
That may be nothing you would not expect from a welcoming public but little touches like this go a long way: people know how their country is projected and simple acts of kindness like this can make a bigger difference on a wider level. <\/p>\n
If there are any further interruptions to Cameroon's travel plans, Broos could do worse than acquire the number of that taxi company. There is a sense that the Confederations Cup -- teams, organisers, media -- is about carrying out a dry run for the following summer, seeing what works and what may not. So while the coach's concerns require acting upon they serve a useful purpose too, even if that is cold comfort now. <\/p>\n
Cameroon hope that, in the short term, they help ensure them a smoother passage past Australia and beyond. <\/p>\n
Nick Ames is a football journalist who writes for ESPN FC on a range of topics. Twitter: @NickAmes82. <\/p>\n
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Cameroon's travel concerns highlight potential World Cup issue in Russia - ESPN FC (blog)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Cameroon manager Hugo Broos believes only a win against Australia can give them hope of progressing in the Confederations Cup. ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA -- Hugo Broos' prematch news conference had been a standard affair lacking in particularly strong lines until, just before things wrapped up, events took a turn. Continue reading