Point well taken, Bepanda! But I’ll remind you that Mboma grew up in France and has been in the National team since. Job has never set his feet in Cameroon before joining the national team.
Even after he lost his starting job, he still came back. Lauren is not the only to have been labeled as foreigner. It happens in all countries. Go ask africans who play for the french national team. It is not an excuse to back off. When you back off, you are a quitter, regardless of the reason you give. Other foreign born did not last long in the national because the coaches did not call them back, not because they ran away.
You do well citing everything Lauren did for Cameroon. You do not mention the impact the opportunity to play for cameroon might have had on his career. I will remind you that Cameroon took him out of Div II in spain to bring him to the world cup. No one knew him then. Now that he knows all this glory, he is backing out of the team. I guess that is a very good of an example, right?
Cameroonian born players have known all the frustrations. From the administration, and from the fans as well. Still they never quit, unless we send them packing, like we did with Kalla (I guess we are happy now). Lauren do not know half the frustration those other players go through. To go back home after a campain like the world cup is very frustrating. Just remember what happened to Rigobert Song at a bank in Yaounde.
Before you cite any cameroonian who has played many competitive games, remember that Milla, Song, Mboma, Njitap to name few were/are always there when the national team come calling. Bell used to buy its flight ticket himself. Song once dressed the whole national team. I do not recall them backing away from any call. I don’t really understand your point here.
And last, Lauren did not say what when wrong. I too can grumble. I’ll say I don’t like the way the national team is managed. But unless I specifically say what I didn’t like, people will not really understand why I am Unhappy.
He said he will speak out when time comes, but chosed to remain silent. I appears as if he is quitting, and that my friend does not solve any problem.
Don’t get me wrong here, I do not like the way the national team is managed. But quitting is not the solution.
Essomba
