The worst that could have happened in Durban: “sorcerers”

Football analysts, observers and the media may have exhausted all possible reasons why Cameroon fell. But it is hard to believe that some other thing did not go wrong in Durban.
It may be needless to go back to the rambling performance of French man Paul Le Guen or the tactless play exhibited by the lions, all of which, however, constituted in dashing the hopes of an entire people.
Less talk has been raised about team management and that is where I will not want to go.
Last January in Angola, while Cameroon was mourning the disgraceful exit of her lions, sources very familiar with the team informed that Yves Colleu, Le Guen’s assistant had turned the team base in Lubango into a brothel. Sneaking in with free women and even conflicting with irate players over their lingerie.
He reportedly was cautioned after that dismal failure but it’s no news that old habits die hard. Indiscipline may have contributed to the Lions’ snappy and tasteless campaign and when they get home, someone must be made to talk.
This sounds odd but its more true that odd.
Cameroon’s national team or the managers of Cameroonian football may have looked to more than one direction for success in this affair of 32.
People in Durban and members of the Official delegation to SA have said that our beloved African country got to South Africa with more than one magician.
Yes, You may not believe in voodoo or the black arts but those guys who thought we had to win not minding the means went to South Africa with “wizards.”
And their job was simple-make us win.
I rest my case.

France’s Les Bleues in spiralling form

After desperately struggling and then stumbling en route to the World cup, France now look set for a stint in South Africa. Though narrowly beating Costa Rica, a World Cup absentee (2-1) Wednesday, the friendly game was a near festival of top class control.

Freshman Valbuena clinically finished a superb 83rd minute dribble from Arsenal’s Abu Diabi to put the French ahead of a robust Costa Rican side.

Although highly criticized, manager Raymond Domenech made a tough decision with his first friendly: he fielded what look like his SA starting team, bringing on Henry for Anelka at the second half.

But their youthful opponents were the first to open scores. Sixteen minutes on, Barca’s Abidal let Hernandez pull a trigger at Mandanda raising the tally one goal ahead of France.

A series of goal opportunities came but were either squandered by strikers Malouda and Sidney Gouvou or reposted by a solid Costa Rican defence in front of an equally capable goalie, Navas.

Then Frank Ribery, the apparent French supplement for a retired Zinedine Zidane came on even putting his side on a tie just before the break.

France have not missed a world cup since their turning point victory in 1998. They finished runners up in 2006 but their poorest performance came in 2002 when they bowed out in the first round with a sorry defeat from Abdul Diouf’s Senegal.

The winning generation might have been completely gone yesterday, but newcomers Yuan Gourcuff and Xavier Toulalan may be apt reminders for Claude Makelele and retired Marcel Desally.

Coach Domenech will leave the side at the end of the summer. French League Bordeaux manager and former national squad skipper-Laurent Blanc is planned to come in.

The French play against Uruguay on June 12 at the start of their World Cup campaign in Poll A before meeting hosts South Africa and then Mexico.

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Cameroon put up lackluster performance in friendly

Cameroon staged a lackluster and almost dead 0-0 performance against Georgia, Tuesday at the start of international friendlies towards next months World cup.
While England, Mexico, France and other world cup finalists had relatively exciting games, the Lions’ was almost a gala match.
Head coach, Paul Le Guen fielded 20 of his 28 players in camp, including starting midfielders Alexander Song and Jean Makoun. But the play was far from a world cup standard.
Almost no shorts on goal from Cameroon’s lions, passes were at best inaccurate while Hamburg striker Iddrissou Mohamadou slept throughout the game.
Samuel Eto’o was absent. He reportedly asked for a week of rest following a tough Italian season where he finished with a Treble. Number 10 Achille Emana was not fielded; he had only joined the team a few hours to the match in Austria, we gathered.
The Georgians put up a solid face to their Cameroonian opponents holding the game to an insipid tie.
Newcomer, Marcel Njeng made a creative game at the right flank whereas home based Patrick Mevoungou of Canon failed to impress.
Paul Le Guen has to announce his final 23 man squad for the world cup latest June 1.
Cameroon will take on Serbia, Slovakia and then Portugal on June 5.
They then travel to Durban, their South African base for the Bloemfontein opener against Japan on June 14.

Pillars of Cameroon’s world cup squad

Whatever guides Frenchman Paul Le Guen as he picks his 23 man squad for the World Cup this summer, certain men must appear if he wants to make the competition superb. Already featuring in the 30 man squad he released a fortnight ago is the body work of the team. But who makes the lion’s den a ferocious one and how?

Samuel Eto’o: Samuel Eto’o is without doubt the most recognizable player Cameroon has had and arguably the best. Four times Champions League winner with some the best clubs around Europe, the 29 year old Internazionale Striker brings a wealth of experience and tactics to the team. He will be among the people to watch keenly in South Africa but must ensure that as captain he works for the goals and for the team. Eto’o has been called selfish especially during four years at Barcelona but his recent play style with Portuguese man Mourinho proves that if well managed he can be unstoppable.

Alexander Song Billong: Arsenal Gunners defensive midfielder is a great reason why Cameroon should hope for a top spot in this year’s SA affair. The 23 year old marksman is tough and spirited. He left Arsenal fans singing wildly in the rain-“this is our Song, we have only one Song” after a particularly splendid year in England. Young Song will have just one job to do this summer- relay a robust defence to an Eto’o attack and just occasionally pull a shot on goal.

Achille Emana: The thick set shooter is very popular at home but relatively less known to European bigs. His stylish play adds aroma to a game but this summer, Cameroonians will need him scoring. Still held back by his Spanish side, Real Betis for a crucial season ender, Emana who carries shirt number 10 after Roger Milla and Patrick Mboma will have to measure with these greats in his first real world cup experience. If he can combine well with the entire attack line, then the goals will get on and coming.

Jean II Makoun: Ike Cassillas, arguably the best goalie to be present in South Africa knows the worth a small Makoun whose 32 metre thunderbolt strike sank Real Madrid at the first quarter final game of the just ended Euro Champions League in Lyon. Makoun sometimes comes up as a substitute offensive midfielder for his national side but makes a big difference to play. During Cameroun’s qualifier game in Libreville last year, he finished a hard trick from Samuel Eto’o which put his initials in the memory of that stunning campaign.

Assou Ekoto: The fair complexioned left back winger was instrumental in getting Tottenham Hotspur to the Champions League after a terrific show down with Manchester City at the close of the English season. His absence from the Africa Cup of Nations last January might have explained why a starting line up was almost impossible for manager Le Guen. His mastery of the ball and ability to climb and fall back with equal speed will be a sine qua non to Cameroon’s fifth World cup appearance.

Enow Eyong: Eyong had a good AFCON though Cameroon failed to move further than the quarter finals. He is a strong supplier at Dutch side Ajax and means much to a team in need of supply power. He will be at his first world cup with the team and can fill in a gap that has posed a problem since 2003-Marc Vivien Foe.

Rigobert Song: Some have said that the most capped player of the Cameroon outfit is just too old to keep up the frenzy on pitch. But at 33, Song whose son is in the squad with him is more than a defence ad to the team. More than ten years as the Lions’ captain, Rigobert Song will be in his fourth world cup in 2010 from a 1994 debut with the likes of Oman Biyick and Roger Milla. When Song accompanies the team to SA he will qualify for a FIFA pension when he says no to the sport. His Trabonsport side in Turkey won the country title with the defender furnishing more than 450 minutes of play. This summer it’s certain that things will not be about age but a Song spirit is needed-Allez y Maniang

Geremi Njitap Fotso: After rising with some of the best clubs in Europe, the old guard has no doubt plummeted. But Geremi has a story with the lions and must be up to the task if he is given the chance in June. Geremi is one man among few around the world who can turn a less likely free kick in to a 89th minute goal not minding its distance from the goal. He is indisputably a force for younger players on the team who will need a man to booster their amateur spirits.


The 30 man Squad
Goalies : Hamidou Souleymanou (Kayserispor) ; Idriss Carlos Kameni (Espanyol Barcelone), Guy Roland Ndy Assembe (Valenciennes), Amour Patrick Tignyemb (Bloemfontein Celtic)

Defenders : Jean Patrick Abouna Ndzana (Astres de Douala), Benoit Assou-Ekotto (Tottenham), Sebastien Bassong (Tottenham), Gaëtan Bong (Valenciennes), Aurélien Chedjou (Lille), Geremi Njitap (Ankaragücü), Stéphane Mbia (Olympique de Marseille), Makadji Boukar (Al Nahdha Club – Oman), Nicolas Nkoulou (AS Monaco), Rigobert Song (Trapzonspur)

Mid-field : Marcel Ndjeng (FC Augsbourg), Enoh Eyong Tarkang (Ajax Amsterdam), Jean II MAKOUN (Olympique Lyonnais), Georges Mandjeck (FC Kaiserslautern), Joël Matip (Schalke 04), Patrick Mevoungou (Canon Sportif de Yaoundé), Landry Nguemo (Celtic Glasgow), Alexandre Song (Arsenal)
Strikers : Vincent Aboubakar (Coton Sport), Eric Choupo-Moting (FC Nuremberg), Achille Emana (Bétis Séville), Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan), Mohamadou Idrissou (Fribourg), Rostand Dorge Kouemaha (FC Bruges), Achille Webo (Majorque), Jacques Zoua (FC Bâle)

32 Gunners, one game.

Its just next month and the world will race down the slopes of Mandela’s country to pick that historic title-the FIFA world cup. Shakira the latino diva has a clear idea when she shouts in her world cup song-“the pressure is on, I feel it.” Yes it’s on we feel it. During this unprecedented contest of a world cup and why not after, we’ll bring you analysis that lets you know where the goal goes next, incredible insight to every action and above all, make you be a vuvuzela fan. Yes the pressure is on, feel it too.