Lions at Club: Eto’o again!

Sky’s the limit for Samuel Eto’o at the present time. The cameroonian international is on a wonderful streak at his club of Barcelona. He has score nine goals in ten league games and helped his teamates defeating italians champions, AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League. This Sunday, he had impressed in the win over Deportivo La Coruna, scoring the winning goal in the first half.

Spain

Samuel Eto’o continued his goal scoring form as he notched his league leading 9th goal of the season in Spain. In a lively and entertaining match Barcelona beat Deportivo 2-1 with Eto’o scoring the game winning goal in the 35th minute. It was likely his easiest goal

of the season as he almost walked the ball into the net after receiving a fine square ball from Ludovic Giuly. Eto’o caused danger throughout the time he was on the field and was eventually subbed out in the 80th minute. Carlos Kameni kept another blank sheet in goal as he helped lead Espanyol to a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad.

France

In a generally quiet week for Cameroon’s players in France the biggest headlines were from 17 year old Alexandre Song who was recently named to the Indomitable Lions roster for the upcoming friendly versus Germany. Song showed his versatility by playing central defense instead of his normal position of defensive midfield and had a very strong match as he led Bastia in their 1-1 draw with Rennes.

Modeste Mbami also had a good outing in the big matchup of the week between Paris St. Germain and Marseille. Mbami did a good job in a central midfield role for PSG in their 2-1 victory. Also playing well this week was Benoit Assou Ekotto who started at left back for Lens in their 1-0 loss to league leaders Lyon. Assou Ekotto, however, played a strong defensive game and helepd neutralize Lyon’s attacks down his flank.

Herve Tum missed Metz’ 1-1 draw with Toulouse but Achille Emana started in midfield for Tououse where he had a relatively quiet game while Henri Bedimo Nsame entered as a late sub in Toulouse’s midfield in the 83rd minute. Lille kept right on Lyon’s tail with a 2-0 win over Istres. Benoit Angbwa played at right back for Lille and Jean Makoun entered as a sub in midfield in the 79th minute. Patrick Leugueun was in defense for Istres but one of his fouls inside the penalty area led to a Lille goal via a penalty kick.

In France’s Ligue 2, Gueugnon and Angers tied 1-1 with Alexis Ngambi starting at centerback for Gueugnon and Martin Ekani entering as a defensive sub in the 76th minute for Angers. Niort had two Cameroonians in their lineup in their 2-0 loss to Clermont- Julien N’Da at left back and Stephane Biakolo at forward. Other Cameroonians playing in Ligue 2 were Eugene Ekobo in midfield for Creteil (2-0 loss to Guingamp); Marcus Mokake at forward for Sedan (0-0 v Chateauroux); and Thierry Gathuessi at centerback for Montpellier (1-0 win v Brest).

England

In England’s Premier League, Chelsea took over first place in the league with a 1-0 win over 3rd place Everton. Geremi gave an energetic performance as a sub in midfield in the 78th minute. Arsenal lost the top spot in the league after drawing 1-1 with Crystal Palace. Lauren was solid as always at right back for the Gunners. Valery Mezague started at right side midfield for Portsmouth in their 3-0 loss to Aston Villa but was subbed out in the 62nd minute. Unfortunately for Mezague, the English press did not give him good reviews for his play. Joseph Desire Job got a start at forward for Middlesbrough in their 1-1 draw with Bolton but he did not have a good outing and was subbed out at the start of the 2nd half.

In the Championship, Matthias Doumbe continued his solid play at centerback for Plymouth in their 2-0 win over Wigan. Patrick Suffo came on as a sub at the half for Coventry but it was not enough as his club lost 3-0 to Leicester. In midweek matches, Suffo started at forward for Coventry and scored their only goal via a penalty kick in the 49th minute in their 1-1 draw with Preston. Matthias Doumbe again was at centerback for Plymouth in a 2-2 draw with Reading while Serge Branco played 59 minutes in midfield for QPR in their 1-1 tie with London rivals Millwall.

Germany

In Germany Raymond Kalla came back faster than expected from injury and started at centerback for Bochum in their 1-1 tie with fellow Bundesliga strugglers Kaiserslautern. Playing for Kaiserslautern were Lucien Mettomo at centerback and Bill Tchato at left back. According to the German press, it was Mettomo who probably had the best game of the 3 Cameroonians in that match.

In Bundesliga 2 Francis Kioyo scored his 3rd goal of the season in the 55th minute of Rot Weiss Essen’s 1-1 draw with Oberhausen. Daniel Wansi came on as a sub at right side midfield in the 80th minute of Dynamo Dresden’s game with Greuther Furth with his team trailing 2-0. Wansi set up a Dresden’s first goal and they eventually tied the match 2-2.

Italy

There are two Cameroonians seeing regular playing time in Italy’s Serie B (2nd Division). 20 year old Thomas Job Iyock is a right winger with Pescara and fellow 20 year old Alain Bono is a centerback/defensive midfielder with Ternana. This week Job Iyock started at right side midfield for Pescara and his cross in the 43rd minute was headed in for the only goal of the match as his club beat Empoli 1-0. Bono started at central defense for Ternana in their 2-1 win over Crotone. The previous week Job Iyock scored his first goal of the season as Pescara beat Salernitana 2-0. Salernitana has 2 young Cameroonians on their books- fullbacks Antonio Ghomsi and Patrice Feussi but they have not played yet this season.

Belgium

In Belgium, Eric Matoukou returned from his red card suspension and picked up another yellow card but he played in central defense and Justice Wamfor was in midfield for Racing Genk as they beat Beveren 2-0. Matthieu Assou Ekotto, the older brother of Lens’ Benoit Assou Ekotto, started in midfield for La Louviere as they lost 2-1 to Anderlecht. Patrice Noukeu was in midfield for Mouscron in their 3-1 loss to Germinal Beerschot and Aloys Nong came in as a substitute at forward in the 39th minute for FC Brussels in his club’s 3-0 loss to La Gantoise.

Greece

Pierre Ebede started in goal for Chalkidona in their 2-0 loss to Skoda Xanthi. Guy Feutchine was at right side midfield for PAOK Salonika in their 2-0 loss to Ergotelis where he was reported to have unsuccessfully attempted numerous crosses in the match.

Turkey

Galatasaray dropped from a tie for first place in the league to third after they were upset 2-0 by Diyabarkispor. Rigobert Song started at centerback for Galatasaray and Alioum Saidou entered as a sub in midfield in the 63rd minute of their club’s loss. Souleymanou Hamidou was in goal for Denizlispor in his club’s 1-1 draw with Istanbulspor. Claude Bakadal was at forward for Sebatspor in their 1-1 draw with Malatyaspor. Herve Zengue played in midfield for Ankaragucu as they lost 2-0 to 2nd place Trabzonspor.

Portugal

Benfica regained first place in Portugal with a 4-0 win over Vitoria Setubal. Albert Meyong started at forward for Vitoria Setubal. In another battle of leading teams in Portugal, Rudolph Douala started at forward for Sporting Lisbon as his club was beaten by European champions FC Porto 3-0. Douala was subbed out of the match in the 59th minute. Finally Yohanna Buba started at centerback for Estoril in his club’s victory over Moreirense 2-1. William Andem has recovered from his injury for Boavista but was on the bench as Senegal’s Khadim has been playing well in his absence.

Sweden

Last week Joseph Elanga and Malmo won the Swedish title and Elanga likely played his last match for the club as he look for new horizons. Elanga played 25 of his club’s 26 league matches this season, scoring 1 goal and receiving 4 yellow cards. In his career with Malmo he played 70 games in the Swedish First Division and scored 4 league goals.

Ukraine

Patrick Ebanda played for Arsenal Kyiv as they drew 1-1 with larger city neighbors Dynamo Kyiv.

Russia

Jerry Christian Tchuisse was at centerback for FK Moscow as his club beat Zenit St. Petersburg 3-2.

Latvia

Aaron Nguimbat started at cenetrback as Skonto Riga defeated FK Ventspils 3-0.

Czech Republic

Patrice Abanda played centerback but his club Drnovice were defeated 3-1 by Zlin.

Romania

Jeremie Njock played at forward but his Universitatae Craiova was beaten 1-0 by Apulum.

Martin COUTLER, martin@camfoot.com

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