Cameroon’s international midfielder Lauren Etame Mayor who distinguished himself in the Indomitable Lions squad by his discipline, devotion and professionalism, has begun speaking out on his plight with the Lions and the mismanagement that orchestrated their poor performance in the World Cup in Japan and Korea.
The 25-years-old Arsenal star player who hardly spoke to the press before said an interview with Le Messager newspaper that he was contemplating leaving the national team so as to devote full time to club.
“I have always thought I could give all to the national team and my club at the same time. For the past two years, I was at the Olympic competition while my team missed me. I also went for the African nations cup. I’ve come to realise I don’t play full time with my club and that’s what I intend to do henceforth”, he said.
Though Etame evokes club reasons, his decision is not unconnected with the recent debacle of the lions in Japan and Korea. “We had a lot of problems before and during the world cup”, he said.
“It was not the best way to prepare us. We had only five days to the first match. When you’ve playing at a high level, meeting the best teams of the world, you’ve been to be well prepared if you want to do something. The Lions were not ready for the first match,” declared the former Mallorca player.
Though Etame is argument is logical and reasonable, one can see the hand of his team coach Arsene Wenger who did not appreciate Biya’s delay in releasing the players after the successful Mali campaign.
The French born coach argued for the fine imposed on Etame to be cancelled and in exchange expected Etame Mayor to show more commitment to the club, which is what he is about to do now.
However Etame seems to have come back to reason as in a later interview with Mutation, he stated.
“I have never said I was leaving the national team”.
However, he admitted he was crossed with the national team and its management but would not say issues that made him crossed.
“I will give my explanation at the opportune moment to the management of the national team” he said.
As to why he has never come back home with the other players after victorious expeditions, Lauren Etame said: « When the day shall come, I will explain why I have never come back with the others ».
“People have been talking about me for a very long time. Some say I am not a Cameroonian and that’s why I don’t want to play with the national team.. All this is not true. I knew who I was for long before joining the national team. There are people who are not happy when I am there. I will explain clearly with time. There are so many things which happened before the last Olympic games, the African Nationals Cup and the World Cup”.
