Former Chelsea coach Roberto Di Matteo has been visiting African countries as running some football programme which is keeping him occupied at the moment. He recently visited Cameroon where he met with local coaches, football scouts and players to discuss matters relating to the sport, and left reportersstunned when he mentioned that the general opinion of the West about African football is pessimistic even though he personally doesn’t share that idea.
Di Matteo, whose sojourn at the Chelsea football club, may have helped to shape and voice his observation , led the London club to clinch their first Uefa Champions League title in 2012, said African players like Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Adebayor and Michael Essien are notable of the African continent’s depth of footballing talent at the very highest level and thus need to be respected.
“I think these players are good examples that Africa, contrary to the general opinion in the West, produces great talents and that the sport is developing fast on the continent.
“Younger generations on the continent are looking up to the aforementioned players who ply their trade successfully in top European clubs and will always be a source of inspiration across Africa to ensure the breeding of future stars,” he said.
Asked about plans for a new job following his sacking from Stamford Bridge in November 2012, the Italian said: “I’m looking for a good project. I have big ambitions for the next level of my career. I hope to join a club with a good working budget where I could implement my game philosophy, where the conditions would allow me to work efficiently and win more titles.”
