After a series of leg and knee injuries that sidelined him for nearly two years, forward Vincent Pericard returned to league action coming on as a substitute for Portsmouth in the opening day of play in the English Premier League. In Norway Patrick Suffo scored his 2nd goal in only his 4th match with new club Odd Grenland, Samuel Eto’o scored in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup while Mathias Chago continues his stellar play with Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia. In Germany’s Bundesliga 2, Francis Kioyo scored twice including his 2nd goal in as many weeks in the final minute of play.
England
This was the opening weekend of play in England’s Premier League and 2 Cameroonians saw action. Vincent Pericard‘s return to play, after almost two years out with leg and knee injuries, was gratifying news. Pericard came on as a substitute forward for his club Portsmouth at the start of the 2nd half in their 2-0 loss to Tottenham. Returning to play after such a long absence would cause most to be tentative but Pericard gave an adequate performance on his return.
Also playing over the weekend and doing his standard good work was Lauren who played right back for Arsenal in their 2-0 victory over Newcastle. Lauren was effective in this match going forward but 10 man Newcastle made the Gunners work to the end of the match to emerge with the victory.
In the 2nd tier of English football, the Championship, Matthias Doumbe started at centerback as Plymouth were defeated 2-0 by Derby County. Midweek Doumbe again played centerback as Plymouth conceded two late goals and drew 3-3 with Watford.
France
In France’s Ligue 1, Modeste Mbami started in central midfield as PSG beat Toulouse 2-0 to move to first place in the league table. Also starting in midfield in that match was Achille Emana who gave a good performance in Toulouse’s losing effort. A couple of Indomitable Lions players were on losing sides in 2-1 matches. Bill Tchato started at left back as Nice lost by that score to Sochaux and Jean Makoun played midfield for Lille as they were surprisingly defeated by newcomers Troyes.
Benoit Assou Ekotto played left back for Lens as they beat Nancy also by a 2-1 score and Jean Joel Perrier Doumbe and his Rennes teammates had a miserable game as they lost 4-0 to Le Mans and remained bottom of the table in France after 3 weeks of play.
In Ligue 2 Creteil, led by their captain midfielder Eugene Ekobo, moved to the top of the standings with a 4-0 victory over Gueugnon. Ekobo gave another steady perfiormance in midfield. Marcus Moake played the first 63 minutes at attacking midfield for Sedan as they lost 1-0 to Clermont. Patrick Leugueun and Pierre Njanka made up Istres central defensive pairing in their club’s 2-1 win over Sete. Njanka, however, was red carded in the 64th minute of the match after picking up his 2nd yellow card of the game. Gilbert Bayiha was in goal for Grenoble as they lost 2-0 to Valenciennes.
Germany
In Bundesliga 2, Francis Kioyo again was the hero for Energie Cottbus. A week after scoring Cottbus game winner in the last minute of play, Kioyo scored twice, including the game tying goal again in the last minute of the game as Energie Cottbus drew 2-2 with Bochum. Kioyo, who started at forward, scored his opening goal in the 9th minute with a right footed shot. In the 90th he tied the match up with a header, his 3rd goal in 2 matches this season.
Spain
The first leg of the Spanish Super Cup pitting last season’s champions (Barcelona) versus Cup winners (Betis) was played over the weekend at Betis’ home stadium. Samuel Eto’o started in a unique position playing primarily as a left winger as Ronaldinho operated as the club’s deep lying center forward. Playing on the left, Eto’o was not near the goal as often as normal but he also did a good job in getting back and defending when need be. Early in the second half, however, Eto’o scored Barcelona’s 2nd goal as he cut in from the left and received a well placed pass from teammate Xavi before Eto’o then dribled around Betis’ goalkeeper Toni Doblas and shot the ball into the empty net. Barcelona went on to win the match 3-0 making next week’s return leg at the Nou Camp nothing more than a formality.
Belgium
Matthieu Assou Ekotto started in midfield for Standard Liege and played the first 72 minutes of his club’s 2-1 victory over newly promoted Zulte Waregem. Eric Matoukou started at centerback as Racing Genk played a scoreless draw with Charleroi. Patrice Noukeu started in midfield as Mouscron lost 2-0 to Lokeren and Julien Kemajou came on as an offensive sub in the 84th minute of Germinal Beerschot’s 1-0 loss to Westerlo.
Turkey
Scandinavia
In Norway, Patrick Suffo started at forward for Odd Grenland and scored a goal in the 13th minute as his club beat Lillestrom 3-2. In Sweden, Joseph Elanga played left back as Malmo drew 2-2 with Assyriska. In Finland midfielder Marc Ndikumade is now playing with TP 47 after originally signing with FC Dinaburg a club in Latvia. This weekend Ndikumade started in midfield as TP 47 lost 1-0 to Inter Turku. Starting at forward for the victors was teenager Serge N’Gal. Earlier in the week N’Gal played again as Inter Turku beat FC Lahti 4-0.
Switzerland
Centerback Jean Pierre Tchetchoua and midfielder Augustine Simo played as Aarau drew 1-1 with Yverdon in Swiss league play. Earlier in the week, both Tchetchoua and Simo again played as Aarau played a scorless tie with Young Boys Bern. Due to an adductor injury Armand Deumi will be out of action at least a month for FC Thun.
Croatia
Mathias Chago gave another good performance for Croatia’s Dinamo Zagreb as his club won 6-0 over Inter Zapresic over the weekend. The energetic Chago was quite active in the engine room of Dinamo’s midfield and nearly scored in the 50th minute.
Serbia & Montenegro
Pierre Boya started at forward for Partizan Belgrade as his club defeated Smederevo 2-1 in Serbia & Montenegro.
Latvia
Aaron Nguimbat started at centerback for Skonto Riga in their 2-1 victory over Dinaburg.
United States
Alain Nkong started at attacking midfielder for Colorado Rapids as they drew 1-1 with San Jose Earthquakes. In the 50th minute, Nkong made a long solo run but his resulting shot was just wide of the goal.
Indonesia
In Indonesia forward Serge Emaleu scored in two separate games for his club Arema as they won twice to move within 2 points of Conference 1 (West) leaders Persija Jakarta. Emaleu scored in the 32nd minute as Arema beat Deltras 4-1 then earlier in the week he scored in the 89th minute as Arema beat Persekabpas 2-0.
Malaysia
Several Malaysia Cup matches were postponed due to a thick haze which enveloped the country from the burning of brush in the nearby Indonesian island of Sumatra. But forward Christian Beckamengo did play as his club Negri Sembalan played a scoreless tie with Penang.
