Since the release of the information that two home based players have been called up for the friendly game between Italy and Cameroon, many have greeted this move by head coach, Paul Le Guen as one to pump in new blood in the squad. The players, Mabouka Massoussi and Abouna Ndzana all defenders of Astres fc of Douala are yet believe their eyes equally.
Ever since the information was released, fans of Astres fc of Douala have been thronging into the team’s training camp at the Omnisports annex stadium in Douala. The five thousand man crowd that came out to discover these players on Monday immediately doubled on Tuesday as we visited the camp. Even headcoach Emmanuel Ndoumbe Bosso of Astres thought that it was a football match his team was playing. When we got at the training site Tuesday morning we could only get to one of the players; Mabouka Massoussi who was effectively present but Abouna Ndzana on his part was absent as he had been rushed to Yaoundé in order to make arrangements for his passport. Mabouka could not hide his feelings as he said it was the ultimate moment he was waiting in his career as he promises to prove his worth. The 22 year old right back was the centre of attraction from his team mates, fans, coaches and particularly the Media.
Their head coach, Ndoumbe Bosso has not hidden his feelings as he thinks the call up of these players would spur other players of the local league to work harder in order to equally earn a place. He thinks Head coach Paul Le Guen made the right choice in calling up these players and has moved rapidly to conclude that these players are a possible replacement for Njitap and Binya who he thinks are at the end of their careers. At the training camp, the atmosphere is serene as the players look motivated after their brilliant one nil victory over last Sunday in the MTN Elite one over local rivals Union Sportive of Douala by a goal to nil as both players were instrumental in this victory.
Born on June 16 1988, Ernest Olivier Bienvenu Mabouka Massoussi started his career with the football academy of Les Brasseries du Cameroun where he spent six years. Weighing 75kg and measuring a meter and 76 centimeters, he later on moved to a local division two side Douala Athletic Club 2000 where he spent a year before joining Astres of Douala where he is playing in just his second season. Meanzhile Patrick Abouna Ndzana started his own career with the defunct Shooting star PK 14 in Douala before joining Rayon sport and Friendship foot academy, all local clubs in Douala. Born on September 27 1990, he is 1m, 71cm tall and weighs 71kg.
Francis AJUMANE, Douala
