Ahead of the crucial 2010 World cup/AFCON qualifiers game against Togo in Yaounde, Lions headcoach Paul Le Guen has injected new blood into his squad after giving Henri Bedimo his first call-up in his 21 man list published recently.
The 25 year old is called up probably to fill in the gap left by Benoit Assou Ekotto who misses out on suspension. Apart of Bedimo, the squad remains unchanged as to that which faced Gabon earlier in September. However Camfoot got got interested in the profile of the defender from Chateauroux and caught up in a telephone conversation with his first trainer, Christian Nyonseck, who traces the player’s ascension to glory.
Who is Henri Bedimo?
Born on June 4, 1984 in Douala, the player is one of the luckiest ever footballer, as explained by his first trainer. Bedimo who played for a local side Dreams Fc of Douala, on several attempts had failed to get himself enrolled into the football academies of Les Brasseries Du Cameroun and the Kadji Sports Academy. However he never gave up and kept on training in Bonamoussadi where he used to play at the Ecole Publique de Bonamoussadi field, recounts Christian Nyonseck, his first trainer.
However, fate will make it possible for the youngster whom after training one fateful afternoon was returning home, just to be called up to complete a squad that was playing a test match at Ecole Publique Bonamoussadi-Douala, under the watchful eyes of a football agent. The agent will then « fall in love » with the player at the expense of those he came to watch.
Bedimo Nsamè, popularly called Valdo at that time because of his powerful left foot, and then saw the dawn of a blossoming career as his dream of playing professional football started materialising when he was signed by Grenoble in 1999 where he continued the adventure. As he was called up to complete a squad before he found his luck, would he equally be able to seize the opportunity given him by Paul Le Guen, and get himself a regular place in the starting XI? Let’s wait and see.
