FCON 2019: More Danger for Cameroon as Top Engineer at Olembe Stadium Resigns

The Italian group Piccini, in charge of the construction of the Olembé stadium, located in the Cameroon’s capital city, Yaoundé, which is to host the opening and final of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) men's football; confirmed Saturday evening through a release, the resignation of the engineer and head of the project, Marc Debandt.

According to reports, rumours about his resignation were already circulating on social media a few hours before confirmation by the release of the company.

We learnt that “pressure” from state authorities against the background of retro-commission requirements has been cited as reason for his resignation.

However, Piccini has debunked such allegations stating that Marc Debandt “is not responsible for the financial management, or the purchases, or the contracts of the company”, but that his work is essentially technical and consisting in managing the technical staff and the materials made available to the company by the general management.

As part of the requirements of the State of Cameroon and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to accelerate the work of the infrastructure, the manufacturer explains having readjusted its organization chart to multiply the teams of work, with the aim of simultaneously performing several tasks.

According to Piccini, it is this new readjusted program which Marc Debandt did not buy that has caused him to quit.

The company has also described his professional qualities as “unquestionable”.

With a capacity of 60,000 seats and to cost 163 billion CFA francs, the Olembe stadium has a very short period to be delivered by the company in charge of the project and is currently built in prefabricated materials from Italy.

When completed, the stadium is expected to also include two training grounds, shopping malls and accommodation facilities.