23 year old summer signing, Gustave Bahoken gave an outstanding performance for the Lions when they faced reigning Scottish Premier League champions, Celtic at Parkhead. But, despite the fact that Livingston left the East side of Glasgow with little to show for their enormous efforts, Gustave reckons Livingston took more positives than negatives from the game.
At 23, the highly adaptable defender is looking forward to a bright future in the game. But Gustave reckons he has already come a long way; he can trace his interest in football all the way back to when, as an 11 year old, he and his friends watched the Cameroon national side contest the 1990 ‘Italia’ World Cup. The impact which the national side had on the competition brought plaudits from all over the globe and turned outstanding – though little known talents such as Roger Milla – into household names. Like thousands of young Cameroonian football players of the time, Gustave Bahoken was determined to follow Milla onto the international stage.
Gustave has already gone a long way towards fulfilling those early ambitions – he has been capped for Cameroon on a number of occasions – and, despite having notched-up relatively few years as a professional, has already amassed a wealth of personal experience.
Born in Douala, the republic of Cameroon, West Africa on 13th June 1979, Gustave learned his trade in the football academies of his homeland and played for top Cameroonian side, Coton Sport before signing professional terms, at 19 years of age, for French outfit Rouen.
His defensive prowess quickly gained the attentions of other Clubs in the French Leagues and subsequently earned Gustave – not only a move to Le Harve – but a call from the Cameroon national coach.
Though he has played in the National side, he was disappointed not to be called up for the squad which contested last summers World Cup in Japan & Korea, though he admits that players such as Rigobert Song are difficult to displace. However, he is sure his chance will come, and views his summer move to Livingston as a big step in the right direction.
Having learned a little of Gustave’s background, I was keen to learn how much he knew about Livingston before he made the move. “I had never heard of them while I was playing in France”, he admitted. “It wasn’t really until the end of 2001 – when there was talk of a fairly new Scottish Team making a challenge for the 1st Division title – that the name of Livingston began to catch the imagination.
“At the end of last term, when the team finished third in the league and secured a place in the UEFA Cup qualifying rounds, a lot more people were talking about Livingston, and reports of their progress began to be mentioned more and more in the French newspapers.
“That was one of the reasons why I decided to take-up the offer of a trial with Livingston. Livingston are an ambitious team. They have good players and they want to continue to play in Europe. I want to help them keep achieving that. The Vaduz game was my own first taste of European competition, as it was for the Club, and I enjoyed it. Playing at that level might also help me retain a place in the Cameroon team, and I’m always proud to play for my country.”
Having been pitted against European competition in two of his first three turn-outs for his new team, quickly followed by a trip to Celtic Park, I asked Gustave if he was uncomfortable with the pressure the team had been under recently.
“No, not at all”, he revealed. “I felt really good in the game against Celtic. I’ve been hungry to play since I arrived, and it’s the same for everyone. Every player wants to take part in the big games and show what they can do.
“We have a very good team here. There has been talk about us not being fit, and maybe that was a factor for the players who didn’t arrive here until shortly before the season was about to start, but it’s not a factor now. We have good players here, good professionals, they keep themselves in good condition all the time, so it doesn’t take long to get match-fit again.
“Celtic and Rangers are very big teams, with many quality players. Playing against them gives us the chance to measure ourselves against the very best in the league and see how the balance is made. You don’t have so much to lose against the big teams, but there is much you can learn.”
Looking forward, Gustave says he is very excited about Livingston’s prospects. “I enjoyed playing against FC Vaduz, and I’m hoping to continue that in the league and against Sturm Graz in the 1st round of the Uefa Cup.”
Having played a few different roles in the Lions defensive set up so far this term, I asked Gustave which position he himself preferred.
“Left. Right. Centre. I don’t mind”, says Gustave. “As long as I get on the park I’ll play wherever the manager wants me to.”
