Destination: South Africa

Here's the interview:

Nayar: You played in the friendly a few days ago - what was it like being with all your former teammates again after so many years?

Milla: It was a pleasure to be together once again. We hadn't played together since [the World Cup in Italy in] 1990. It was nice that we could come together and relive the best moments from that World Cup.

Nayar: How did the crowd react? What did you feel from the pitch?

Milla: The crowd was really enjoying themselves. It was just like being back in Italy in 1990. The crowd was encouraging us the whole game, calling out the names of the players - it was great. We would love to do this again from time to time.

Nayar:  You were one of the first players from African to hit global recognition and bring attention to African football. So for you, what does it mean to have the World Cup, the world's top football event, on your continent?

Milla:  It's the consecration of African football. We never used to talk about African football at the highest level. Today we are organizing the World Cup in Africa. It shows that in the last 50 years [since independence] the African continent has worked and progressed great deal. So it's absolutely fitting that today we are able to host an event like the World Cup in Africa.

Nayar:  How do you think this World Cup [being in Africa] will help raise the profile of African players?

Milla: Many African players are already well-known, and other African players, through this World Cup, will also become known. We have six African countries involved in this year's Cup and in those six countries, there are some really great players. We hope that these players will not only play well for their country but also to represent the African continent [to raise the profile of African players] in the future.

Nayar:  Has a lot changed in Cameroonian football since you first donned the Cameroonian jersey?

Milla: Many things have changed in Cameroon [since I started my career]. The situation for players has improved because when we were playing there wasn't any infrastructure; we received almost no compensation to play. Now systems are in place so the players today can play freely and afford to live, to buy the equipment they need.  Cameroon has put a lot of effort in to make sure that players are compensated every time they win.

Nayar: On paper, teams like Ivory Coast win with their big players like Didier Drogba. But in most competitions Cameroon comes out on top. Why do you think that is?

Milla: Well football isn't played on a piece of paper - the game is between players on the field. Cameroon is stronger because it's a country of conquerors, of winners. Cameroon's players aren't necessarily very technical, but that when they play, they play to win. Cameroonian players (currently more than Ivory Coast) really want to please the public. But the competition isn't just about pleasing people; it' s also about scoring goals and going the furthest possible. So that's the difference between Ivory Coast and Cameroon.

Nayar: Since I've been here, I've really noticed that Cameroonians are crazy about football. I'm told that football is more important that politics - that if the Lions [the national side] win a big game, the politicians could change the constitution and people probably wouldn't notice.

Milla: It's true that in Cameroon, football is our leading political party. When the Lions play, all the stores shut and everyone comes together to watch the game. The politics stop, everyone is united and everyone is speaking the same language. But as soon as the game ends, people re-start their lives again, people start insulting one another again.

Here in Cameroon, football is our leading political party. It's football alone that that unites us, it's football alone that brings us good things - football is the window into our country - so we don't mess around with it.

Nayar: Cameroon is a tiny country - how does it find a team that can perform so well on the international stage? I've heard football academies are more numerous than universities in Cameroon - is this the national strategy?

Milla: It's not just because the football academies that Cameroon does well in the game. Cameroon is a football country - children are born playing football. Some of the young people who want to improve their game end up going to a football academy they can. But they are already born into the game. When a small child starts playing around with the ball, we can already see if he can play or not.

Nayar: You've had a great and long football career - is there anything that has stood out as your best/favourite moment?

Milla: The best moments for me were the World Cup events that I played in. There are terrific players around the world that have never had the chance to participate in a world cup [aside: you can't play in a world cup if your country team never qualifies]. So to play in a World Cup, especially for an African, is really something.

Nayar: How do today's top players, like Samuel Eto'o, look at you?

Milla: They look up to me with admiration for all that I did - I don't think there is another word that I could use. They admire and appreciate what I did just like I appreciate what they are doing today.

Nayar: You advanced to the quarter-finals at the 1990 World Cup in Italy - the furthest any African country. What do you hope for this year's team  - do you think they could do it again? Could they even win?