After the rather bloody report sheet of their pre-world cup games, Cameroon’s indomitable lions are back in the country as they take a final bend on the road that leads to South Africa. After setting foot on home soil (at the Nsimalen airport), they were immediately granted a 48-hour rest to enable them recover from they hard work they have been undergoing for the past weeks.
Samuel Eto’o and his comrades are on an unusual 48 hour break in the country in a bid to rebuild them both physically and mentally and weeks of intense training characterized by some setbacks both on and off the pitch. Though observers have criticized this decision by the technical staff to grant the players a long resting period, it is however believed that they are presently licking their wounds after a series of poor performance so as to get ready to pounce on their opponents when the South African festival kicks off in the days ahead.
These two days are expected to be characterized not only by relaxation but equally concentrating and examining their consciences after the difficult weeks gone by. In 4 outings, the lions did not even attempt to roar in front of a harmless Georgian team who held them to a goalless draw before failing to roar louder against Slovakia in a 1-1. Later on the lions proved their vulnerability in front of stronger opponents as they were tamed by Portugal to a three-one score before Serbia added more salt to their injuries by imposing a 4-3 defeat on them. Not quite impressive for the start of the world cup; reason why the have been given the long rest. After the rest they are expected to play a forty-minute gala encounter at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium before visiting the team doctor then submitting themselves to a mass before boarding the plane for South Africa.
But do the lions really need the 48 hour rest? After a training session characterized by ups and downs which saw some key players arrived late and did not have enough time to train, is it worthy to skip 48 hours without training? Were they no other means to boost their morals than to give them such freedom when time is fast approaching? Well, only time will tell if the technical team is acting in the right direction but none of the rest of 31 teams going into the competition have taken such a risk. In 48 hours many things can happen which can make or mar their participation at the world cup. As has always been the case with some players who use this period to get the final blessings from their families while others consult their soothsayers for the final blessings before heading for the competition.
But the players should guard against irresponsible behaviour during this period (as has been the case with some players in the past) so as to remain fresh as the competition kicks off in the days ahead. Hope the head coach has been able to detect the frailties in his team after this preparatory period.
