In Spain, Cameroon star Samuel Eto’o, who complained of a muscle injury before the match against Racing started, scored his fifteen goal in Liga before been subbed out after 81 minutes. But the biggest news from Turkey was Genclerbirligi signing former Indomitable Lion Pierre Wome Nlend.
Spain
Barcelona maintained their 7 point lead atop Spain’s La Liga with a 3-0 victory over Racing Santander. Samuel Eto’o started at forward and got Barcelona off to a good start by scoring in the 8th minute of the match. Midfielder Xavi placed a perfect through ball and Eto’o beat the Racing offside trap to come in alone against Racing’s goalie on the right side of the penalty area, Cameroon’s star shot between the legs of the keeper for his 15th league goal of the season. Eto’o, who complained of a muscle injury before the match started, was subbed out after 81 minutes.
Pierre Achille Webo also scored this weekend in Spain. He started at forward for Osasuna and scored his clubs’ second goal of the match against their northern Spanish neighbors Athletic Bilbao. In the 48th minute of the game, Webo, near the penalty spot, stooped low and connected on a diving header of a right wing cross for his 3rd goal of the league season. In the 78th minute Webo was substituted out with Osasuna leading 3-2 but Atletic Bilbao came back and eventually won the match 4-3 capping a remarkable comeback after trailing 3-0 at one point in the 2nd half.
Carlos Kameni also had a disappointing time last weekend as he was in goal for Espanyol in their match against Deportivo La Coruna. Deportivo won 4-1 with Espanyol’s normally tight defense having a bad day. Of course it didn’t help that centerback Mauricio Pochettino was sent off with the score 2-1 in favor of Deportivo. But despite conceeding 4 goals, none of them can really be credited as due to mistakes on the Cameroonian keepers part.
Daniel Kome entered as an offensive sub in the 69th minute for Getafe in their surprisingly easy 3-0 win over Zaragoza.
Midweek Kome was the only Cameroonian in action playing at withdrawn forward for Getafe in their 3-2 Copa del Rey (domestic Cup in Spain) win over Osasuna. Kome scored his first goal of the season in the 38th minute of the match. Osasuna, however, went through to the next round on aggegate goals scored.
France
In Ligue 1 over the weekend, Achille Emana scored the opening goal in Toulouse’s 2-1 victory over Nantes. In the 31st minute, right side midfielder Emana’s free kick was deflected and wrong footed Nantes’ goalkeeper. Emana’s passing and ability to run at the defense were key components of Toulouse’s attack throughout the match.
During the week Marseille’s new coach Philippe Troussier, in an attempt to motivate Salomon Olembe, criticized his inability to make more crosses in a game from his left wing back position. Troussier told the press that Olembe needs to move forward more and hit at least 10 crosses per match instead of the 2-3 he normally does. Over the weekend Olembe again started at left wing back for Marseille in their 1-0 win over Metz. Olembe defended well but again did not move forward all that often. Playing forward for Metz, and being quite active, was Herve Tum. He caused a lot of danger for Marseille’s defense but was continually denied a goal by the fine play of Fabien Barthez in goal.
Benoit Assou Ekotto started at left back for slumping Lens in their 2-0 loss to Monaco. Like the rest of his team, Assou Ekotto disappointed in the loss which caused the club’s coach to be relieved of his duties the next day. Receiving a rare start in midfield for PSG was the versatile Jean Hugues Ateba who was replaced after 81 minutes of his club’s scoreless draw with St. Etienne. Alexandre Song again gave a strong performance at centerback for Bastia in their 2-0 win over Nice. The marquee matchup this weekend in France was the battle between the top two clubs in the country Lyon and Lille. Jean Makoun gave a masterful display of energy and passing in Lille’s midfield as they cut Lyon’s lead with a 2-1 victory.
In Ligue 2 Sedan’s scoreless draw with Niort saw a battle between Marcus Mokake who played 71 minutes at forward for Sedan and Julien N’Da who went the full 90 for Niort. Le Havre’s 1-1 tie with Creteil also saw Cameroonians on both sides as Stephane Biakolo started at forward for his new club LeHavre while Eugene Ekobo was in midfield for Creteil. Alexis Ngambi again was at the heart of Gueugnon’s defense playing centerback in their 1-1 with Reims. Martin Ekani also played centerback but for Angers in their disappointing 4-1 loss to Troyes. Grenoble’s match with Clermont was postponed due to bad weather.
Midweek there was French League Cup matches and Benoit Assou Ekotto was the only Cameroon player involved, starting at left back in Lens’ 3-0 loss to St. Etienne.
Greece
Aris Salonika was a busy club this week as they signed 3 players from Cameroon, left sided midfielder Samuel Inogue from Canon Yaounde, forward Dorge Rostand Kouemaha of Victoria United and defender Eugene Fomumbob from Union Douala. Both Inogue and Kouemaha made the bench for Aris’ match this weekend against Skoda Xanthi and Inogue even came on as a sub in the 79th minute of Aris’ 2-1 victory but showed that he has only been practicing a few days with his new teammates.
Belgium
In St. Trond’s 2-2 tie with Anderlecht, St. Trond’s tying goal was scored in the 74th minute by substitute forward Samuel Ipoua, who had entered the match 19 minutes earlier. Racing Genk’s 2-1 win over Mouscron saw centerback Eric Matoukou and defensive midfielder Justice Wamfor emerge victorious over midfielder Patrice Noukeu. Matthieu Assou Ekotto again played well in midfield for Standard Liege in his club’s scoreless tie with Charleroi.
Midweek there were Belgian Cup matches. Centerback Eric Matoukou and defensive midfielder Justice Wamfor started in Racing Genk’s 2-1 win over Anderlecht. Patrice Noukeu was in midfield for Mouscron as they were eliminated 1-0 by La Gantoise and Matthieu Assou Ekotto was in midfield for Standard Liege as they were eliminated on pemalty kicks by Charleroi after tying 1-1.
Portugal
Germany
Football returned to Germany after a month long break and in the Bundesliga Raymond Kalla was at his typical centerback position for Bochum in their 2-2 draw with Hertha Berlin. Lucien Mettomo also played centerback but for Kaiserslautern in his club’s 3-1 win over Nurnberg. In Bundesliga 2, Francis Kioyo started at forward and scored in the 55th minute for Rot Weiss Essen in their 1-1 tie with Aue. Kioyo’s goal was his 5th this season for Essen and his 4th in his last 6 league matches. Daniel Wansi started at forward for Dynamo Dresden in their 4-2 loss to Duisburg before being substituted at the 84th minute.
England
In the Elnglish Premier League Timothee Atouba returned from injury coming on as a sub at left midfield in the 44th minute of Tottenham’s 3-0 loss to Crystal Palace. Atouba had a pretty discreet match in his return. Lauren also came back from injury starting at right back for Arsenal and having an average game in his club’s 1-0 win over Newcastle United. Jospeh Desire Job started at forward and played 74 minutes for Middlesbrough in their high scoring 4-4 draw with Norwich. Valery Mezague gave an okay performance entering as a sub in midfield for Portsmouth in their 3-0 loss to league leaders Chelsea.
In England’s version of the 2nd Division- the Championship, Serge Branco’s short term contract expired and was not renewed at Queens Park Rangers. Patrick Suffo in a bid to earn more playing time also negotiated a release from his contract with Coventry so he could pursue playing opportunities in the Middle East. Thus the only Cameroon player left in the Championship is Franco-Cameroonian centerback Matthias Doumbe who started for Plymouth in their 2-0 loss to Preston.
Scotland
Gustave Bahoken started at centerback for Livingston in his club’s 4-1 loss to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Turkey
Italy
In Italy’s Serie B, Antonio Ghomsi played at centerback for Salernitana as they were beaten 1-0 by Treviso. Thomas Job Iyock started at right midfield for Pescara but was subbed out after 62 minutes of Pescara’s 1-0 win over Piacenza.
By Martin COUTLER, martin@camfoot.com
