Sunday, April 1, 2012

Roger Milla receives Olympic award

The 1990 Fifa World Cup sensation received the flagship prize at the Cameroon Olympic Committee awards night held in Yaounde on Friday

Cameroon’s football legend Roger Milla has once again been recompensed for his enormous contributions to the development of sport in his country, months after his outspoken criticism of the state of sport facilities and the professionalism of the domestic league.

The National Olympic and Sports Committee of Cameroon (CNOSC) honoured the two-time African Footballer of the Year with its Etoile D’Or (Golden Star) prize during the committee’s maiden edition of the awards in Yaounde on Friday.

“It's a honour in recognition of all your efforts across these years for the emancipation of the sports movement in Cameroon,” said Malboun Kalkaba Hamad, chairman of the CNOSC.

Receiving the accolade the 59-year-old former Monaco striker said, “It’s a great joy for me and an inspiring gesture from the National Olympic Committee.”

“I hope this initiative will not die next year, because our winning athletes need to be encouraged so they can continue to win new medals,” he added.

At the age of 38, Milla scored fours goals during the 1990 World Cup held in Italy, achieving international stardom. Back home in Cameroon, he has been a vibrant advocate of transparency in the affairs of the football federation.

He has also called for the renovation of the sports infrastructure across the central African nation and investment in local clubs to improve the working conditions of players.

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