On Not Knowing When To Quit: The Parable of Song

Rigobert Song is the name of an illustrious Cameroonian football player who contributed significantly in bringing glory to Cameroon football but who, alas, did not know when to quit. One of the problems with celebrities such as athletes and politicians is that they do not know when to quit, that is, they regularly fail to notice when they have outlived their productive period. Song hung on to the Cameroon national football team even when it was remarkably clear to anyone who cares about football that he was no good anymore. He created disastrous circumstances for the team in the last four years or so and everyone cried that he should quit. Just like African politicians he stayed on until his name was dragged in the mud before he retired. Song's career is a perfect parable of the career of most of the African ruling elite.