Football resumed in Europe after the break for international matches and Cameroon’s players tried to put behind them the disappointment of the Indomitable Lions draw with Sudan. This week, the Portuguese League saw some outstanding performances by several Cameroonian players while 17 year old David Eto’o made his professional debut in Spain’s 2nd Division.
Portugal
Rudolph Douala continued his solid play with Sporting Lisbon as he started at right sided forward in Sporting’s 3 forward attack against Estoril. Douala was a constant danger down the right flank with his speed and dribbling ability and he set up 2 of Sporting’s goals in their 4-1 win. Most Portuguese media outlets named Douala as the outstanding player in the game. Countryman Yohanna Buba, as did his entire team, struggled at centerback for Estoril in the same match and was substituted out at the beginning of the 2nd half.
On Monday Albert Meyong celebrated is birthday by scoring the only goal of the match with a penalty kick in the 79th minute as Vitoria Setubal defeated Academica Coimbra. Academica’s Clement Beaud is still injured and is not expected back for several more weeks. There is better news for Boavista’s goalkeeper William Andem who should be ready to play by next week after missing the past few weeks with an adductor injury.
England
In the Premier league, Lauren, as usual, had a steady game as Arsenal continued their unbeaten streak with a 3-1 win over Aston Villa. Lauren displayed his typical good work rate at right back for the Gunners. Geremi entered as a sub at right side midfield as Chelsea surprisingly lost 1-0 at Manchester City. Timothee Atouba was at left side midfield and had a patchy game as Tottenham lost 1-0 to Portsmouth.
In the 2nd tier of English football (Championship), Matthias Doumbe started at defensive midfield for Plymouth in his club’s 1-0 win over Wigan. Super sub Patrick Suffo came on as a sub at forward in the 65th minute of Coventry City’s 1-1 draw with Leicester and Serge Branco entered QPR’s 1-0 win over West Ham in the final minutes of the game.
France
In Ligue 1, Herve Tum returend from international duty by playing a strong match in Metz’ 1-1 draw with Monaco. Tum’s strength and ability to hold the ball, caused problems for Monaco’s central defense. Jean Makoun also returned from playing for the Indomitable Lions by having an average match in Lille’s 2-1 win over Bastia. Modeste Mbami was one of PSG’s better players on the day but they still lost 1-0 to Nantes.
Henri Bedimo Nsame got a start at left side midfield in Toulouse’s 1-0 loss to Nice while countryman Achille Emana was at right side midfield for Toulouse. Unfortunately neither one had much of an impact on the match. Benoit Assou Ekotto was at left back for Lens but his club lost 3-0 to Auxerre. Meanwhile Patrick Leugueun made his debut this season for Istres, starting at right back in his club’s 2-2 draw with Bordeaux. A handball by Leugueun led to one of Bordeaux’s goals via a penalty kick. Salomon Olembe entered as a sub in midfield in Marseille’s 1-1 draw with St. Etienne.
Spain
In Spain, the Barcelona derby ended with Barcelona defeating Espanyol 1-0. The only goal conceded by Espanyol’s Carlos Kameni was from a deflected shot by Deco which Kameni couldn’t do anything about. Other than that he played a pretty solid game but wasn’t tested too much by Barcelona. Samuel Eto’o had a pretty quiet game as well for Barcelona but early in the second half he did miss a great chance to make it 2-0 when alone versus Kameni he shot over the bar. Pierre Webo entered as a sub at forward in the 69th minute of Osasuna’s 3-2 win over Albacete.
In the 2nd Division, 17 year old David Eto’o made his professional debut for Ciudad de Murcia (with brother Samuel watching) as he came on as a sub at forward in the 2nd half of his club’s 2-0 loss to Xerez.
Germany
Raymond Kalla and Bochum continued their recent struggles as they lost 1-0 to Hansa Rostock in the German Bundesliga. Kalla was the only Cameroon player in action this weekend in Germany’s top league. In Bundesliga 2, Francis Kioyo scored an early goal in the 6th minute for Rot Weiss Essen but it was not enough as his club lost 4-1 to Karlsruhe. Daniel Wansi started at right sided midfield for Dynamo Dresden in his club’s 2-1 win over Saarbrucken.
Belgium
Eric Matoukou (centerback) and Justice Wamfor (midfield) started for Racing Genk in their club’s 2-2 draw with Mons. Wamfor had to leave the game at halftime with an ankle injury. Patrice Noukeu was in midfield as his club Mouscron drew 1-1 with Ostende and Mathieu Assou Ekotto was in midfield for La Louviere as they tied 1-1 with Germinal Beerschot. In the Brussels derby, Aloys Nong played 90 minutes at forward for FC Brussels as they lost to their more illustrious neighbors Anderlecht.
Interestingly, Anderlecht sent a scout to Sweden to watch Cameroonian left back Joseph Elanga of Malmo. Elanga, whose contract expires at the end of the year, is being pursued by several European clubs including Anderlecht and FC Bruges of Belgium, along with FC Twente of Holland.
Turkey
Galatasaray celebrated their 100th anniversary with an easy 5-1 win over Kayserispor with Rigobert Song (centerback) and Alioum Saidou (defensive midfield) starting. With a big lead at the half, coach Gheorghe Hagi decided to give Song a rest and brought in veteran defender Bulent Korkmaz. Meanwhile Souleymanou Hamidou saved Denizlispor from defeat with some excellent saves as his club defeated Konyaspor 2-1. Herve Zengue played in midfield for Ankaragucu in their 1-0 loss to Sarkayaspor and Claude Bakadal entered as a sub at forward for Sebatspor in their 2-2 draw with Istanbulspor.
Greece
A quiet week for Cameroon’s players in Greece. Pierre Ebede was in goal as Chalkidona beat Aris Salonika 2-1. The only goal conceded by Ebede came via a penalty kick. Guy Feutchine was at outside right for PAOK Salonika as they drew 1-1 with Kallithea. Feutchine was subbed out in the 74th minute so he was not on the field when Jean Denis Ouanga entered as a sub in midfield for Kallithea in the 81st minute.
In Switzerland, Armand Deumi started at centerback as FC Thun lost 1-0 to FC Zurich and Augustine Simo was in midfield for Aarau in his club’s scoreless tie with Neuchatel Xamax. In the Swiss 2nd Division, Jean Michel Tchouga scored two goals in injury time, in the 93rd and 94th minutes to lead Luzerne to a 2-1 win over Chiasso.
In Sweden, Joseph Elanga started at left back as Malmo surprisingly lost 1-0 to Landskrona. Meanwhile youngster Patrice Kwedi made his league debut for IFK Goteborg entering as a sub at left back in the 73rd minute of his club’s 2-1 loss to Sundsvall. With 2 weeks remaining in the league season in Sweden, Malmo, IFK Goteborg and Halmstads are equal on points atop the league. next week Malmo plays at IFK Goteborg while the final week of the season will see Goteborg at Halmstads.
In Israel, Emile Mbamba started at left side midfield for Maccabi Tel Aviv in his club’s 1-1 draw with Nazareth. Earlier in the week the two club’s met in the Israeli League Cup with Nazareth winning 2-0 in a game where Mbamba started at forward.
In Uruguay, Alain N’Kong came on as a sub at attacking midfield in the 52nd minute as his club Nacional stayed in 1st place in the league with a 1-0 win over Cerrito.
Martin COUTLER, martin@camfoot.com
