Chago Scores Twice In Croatia, Makoun Heads In Another Goal

Mathias Chago continues his excellent start to the new season by scoring twice for Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia. In France’s Ligue 1, Jean Makoun headed in his second goal in as many games, in Poland Francois Endene Elokan scored while in the 2nd Divisions of France and Germany, Marcus Mokake and Francis Kioyo scored last minute game winning goals in a busy week of action for Cameroonian players around the globe.

France

Jean Makoun headed in his second goal in as many league games for Lille in France’s Ligue 1. Makoun, starting in central midfield, opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a close range header in Lille’s 3-3 draw with Ajaccio. Once again Makoun was very active in the engine room of Lille’s midfield. Benoit Assou Ekotto started at left fullback for Lens and had an acceptable match as they continued Marseille’s poor start to the season with a 2-0 win over the Mediterranean club Coming on as a halftime sub in midfield for Marseille was Salomon Olembe who tried hard but wasn’t able to help his club get on the scoreboard.

Bill Tchato started at left back for Nice and had a trouble free game as Nice defeated Toulouse 2-0. Achille Emana in midfield for Toulouse had a pretty invisible match for the losing team while Henri Bedimo Nsame also started at left back for Toulouse and helped prevent Nice from scoring a 3rd goal with a clearance of a goal bound shot. Modeste Mbami had a solid match in midfield as PSG made it 2 wins out of as many matches with a 1-0 victory over Sochaux. Jean Joel Perrier Doumbe struggled at right back, as did his teammates, as Rennes lost 3-0 to Nantes.

In Ligue 2, Marcus Mokake was the big story. He started at attacking midfield for Sedan in their 2-1 win over Sete and scored the game winning goal in the 90th minute. Eugene Ekobo was in midfield for Creteil as they drew 1-1 with Bastia while Pierre Njanka at centerback and Patrick Leugueun at right back both started in defense for Istres as they played a scoreless draw with Guingamp. Finally Gilbert Bayiha was in goal for Grenoble as they defeated Brest 1-0.

Germany

The new season began in Germany’s top 2 divisions this past weekend and Timothee Atouba made his league debut with Hamburg playing a strong match at left back as Hamburg beat Nurnberg 3-0. Lucien Mettomo also started this weekend playing centerback as Kaiserslautern were beaten 2-1 by Schalke one of the league favorites this year.

In Germany’s 2nd Division, Bundesliga 2, Francis Kioyo made his league debut for his new club Energie Cottbus and made it one to remember by scoring the game winning goal in the 90th minute as Energie Cottbus defeated Eintracht Braunschweig 2-1. Marc Gouiffe a Goufan came on as a defensive sub in the 67th minute as his newly promoted club Paderborn lost 3-0 to Unterhaching.

Turkey

The new league season also began in Turkey and many Cameroonian players were in action. Alioum Saidou returned to Galatasaray this summer from his loan spell at Malatyaspor. Both Saidou in central midfield and Rigobert Song in central defense started this weekend and had solid matches as Galatasaray beat Konyaspor 2-1. Herve Zengue played at left back for Ankaragucu as his club tied 2-2 with newly promoted Maniaspor.

Former IL goalkeeper Boukar Alioum, who obtained Turkish citizenship and is now known in Turkey as Ali Uyanik, was released this summer by Konyaspor but he recently signed with a new club Samsunspor, where he is replacing the released Nigerian goalie Ike Shorunmu. This week Alioum started in goal for his new club but they were beaten 3-2 by Gaziantepsor. Also playing in goal this week in Turkey was current IL netminder Souleymanou Hamidou who started for Denizlispor in their 1-1 draw with Ankaraspor.

Belgium

In the opening week of play in Belgium Eric Matoukou started at centerback for Racing Genk as they drew 1-1 with Lokeren. His compatriot Justice Wamfor did not play as he seems to have lost his starting position to new Nigerian signing Sunday Oliseh. Matthieu Assou Ekotto played a solid game in defensive midfield for Standard Liege as they beat Lierse 3-1. Patrice Noukeu also played in midfield for Mouscron but they lost to current league champions FC Bruges 2-0. And making his Belgian league debut as a 88 minute substitute in midfield for Germinal Beerschot in their 2-0 loss to Charleroi was Julien Kemajou.

England

Lauren started at right back and played for Arsenal in their 2-1 loss to Chelsea in the Community Shield the annual game pitting the current league versus Cup holders in England. Lauren, along with the rest of Arsenal’s defense, had trouble containing Didier Drogba who scored both of Cheslea’s goals in the match but Lauren once again showed he won’t back down as he found occasion to put a boot into Drogba from time to time before the Cameroonian right back was subbed off.

League play began in England’s version of a 2nd Division, called the Championship and Franco-Cameroonian defender Matthias Doumbe started as his club Plymouth began the new season with a 2-1 win over Reading.

Switzerland

Armand Deumi played a solid game at centerback as FC Thun warmed up for their midweek Champions League game by drawing 2-2 with Zurich. Centerback Jean Pierre Tchetchoua and midfielder Augustine Simo both played well for Aarau in their 2-0 victory over Neuchatel Xamax.

Croatia

Young midfielder Mathias Chago continued his good start to the new season in Croatia by scoring twice for Dinamo Zagreb in their 5-1 victory over Rijeka. Chago scored in the 43rd and 77th minutes and had an all around outstanding game in midfield.

Serbia & Montenegro

In nearby Serbia & Montenegro, forward Pierre Boya began the new season on the bench as his club Partizan Belgrade were resting some starters for their midweek Champions League match. But Boya entered as a sub in the 57th minute as Partizan defeated Jedinstvo 2-0.

Bosnia &Hercegovina

The new league season also began in Bosnia & Hercegovina and William Tabi came on as a 35th minute sub in midfield as his club Siroki Brijeg beat Radnik 2-1.

Poland

There are 2 Cameroonians, both midfielders, in the Polish First Division. Ferdinand Chifon is with GKS Belchatow and Francois Endene Elokan is with Pogon Szczecin. This week Elokan entered as a sub in midfield in the 19th minute and scored a goal in the 50th as Pogon Szczecin beat Kielce 4-2. Ferdinand Chifon played the first 58 minutes in midfield for Belchatow as they lost 3-0 to Legia Warsaw. Midweek, Chifon again started in midfield as his club also lost 3-0 to Wisla Krakow. Elokan started in midfield and played 66 minutes for Pogon Szczecin as they tied 1-1 with Zaglebie Lubin.

Russia

Stephane Andre Bikey started in midfield for Lokomotiv Moscow as they saw their long unbeaten streak end in the Russian league this weekend when they lost 3-1 to Rubin Kazan. Despite the loss Lokomotiv remains comfortably ahead in the league but in their weekend match they lost to a serious knee injury their star striker Dmitri Sychev who will be out for at least half a year. Jerry Christian Tchuisse again played a solid match at right back as FK Moscow beat Amkar Perm 1-0. Serge Branco played left back for Shinnik Yaroslavl as they won 1-0 over Alania Vladikavkaz. Midweek Tchuisse again played a solid match as FK Moscow drew 1-1 with UEFA Cup holders CSKA Moscow.

Ukraine

In Ukraine Patrick Ebanda started at defensive midfield for Arsenal Kyiv as his club lost 3-1 to FC Kharkiv.

Bulgaria

The new league season began in Bulgaria and Daniel Bekono (just called up by Artur Jorge) was in goal as his club Beroe were beaten 3-1 by Vikren. Also playing for Beroe in that match was forward Marcel Elame.

Sweden

Joseph Elanga played left back for Malmo in their 2-0 victory over Kalmar.

Norway

In weekend action in Norway, Patrick Suffo started at forward and had an average match as Odd Grenland beat Fredrikstad 2-1. Gustave Bahoken played a solid game for Aalesund before leaving after 59 minutes in their scoreless draw with Brann. Midweek, Suffo had a poor match as Odd Grenland lost 5-1 to Bodo Glimt. Midfielder Somen a Tchoyi was one of the few Odd Grenland players who played a good game in the loss. Gustave Bahoken also played well for Aalesund in their 1-1 draw with Ham Kam.

Finland

In Finland, Serge N’gal returned from injury but didn’t have much impact as his club Inter Turku played a 0-0 tie with RoPS.

Latvia

In the Riga derby in Latvia, Aaron Nguimbat in the 63rd minute and Parfait Ngon in the 76th minute came on as subs for Skonto Riga as they beat neighbors FK Riga 4-0.

Ireland

Joseph Ndo played in midfield for Shelbourne as they drew 3-3 with Drogheda United in Ireland.

United States

Alain Nkong scored Colorado Rapids only goal midweek as they were beaten 4-1 by 2nd Division Minnesota in the US Open Cup. Over the weekend in league play Nkong started in midfield as Colorado defeated Los Angeles Galaxy 2-0.

Indonesia

A 7th minute goal by former Canon forward Eric Mebenga allowed Indonesia League Conference 2 leaders Persipura Jayapura to score a 1-0 victory over Persegi Gianyar to widen the gap at the top of the table.

In Conference 1, league leaders Persija Jakarta lost 1-0 to PSIS Semarang but maintained their conference lead as centerback Guy Ambassa and forward Roger Batoum started for Persija.

Malaysia

The Malaysia Cup began play this week. It is not a knockout competition but rather is played in group stages with the group leaders advancing to the knockout stages. This week Bernard Tchoutang scored twice and set up another goal as Pahang beat Johor FC 6-1. In the 56th minute Tchoutang scored his first goal knocking in a rebound off the post into the net. In the 80th he scored his 2nd goal with a shot from outside the penalty area and 6 minutes later he set up a teammate for his club’s final goal of the night.

Cameroonian forward Christian Beckamengo scored a goal in the 36th minute for his club Negri Sembilan as they drew 2-2 with Kuala Lumpur.

By Martin COUTLER

ER