Kalla and Buba Score: Central Defenders Take Over Goalscoring Duties

In a week in which Cameroon’s forwards throughout Europe were held scoreless, it was up to two central defenders, Raymond Kalla in Germany and Yohanna Buba in Portugal to score goals. In Spain Samuel Eto’o and Barcelona increased their lead in the Spanish league to 7 points over Real Madrid…

Germany

Over the weekend in Germany’s Bundesliga Raymond Kalla played a very good game in Bochum’s 3-1 win over fellow relegation zone member Freiburg. Early in the match Kalla cleared a Freiburg shot off of the goal line then in the 56th minute he popped up and headed in Filip Trojan’s long pass into the net for his 5th goal of the league season. Throughout the match, Kalla defended well to hold Freiburg to one goal. Neither Bill Tchato or Lucien Mettomo played this weekend for Kaiserslautern.

In the Bundesliga 2, Francis Kioyo started at forward for Rot Weiss Essen against Energie Cottbus. But Kioyo had an unexpected quiet match in the goalless draw. Daniel Wansi entered as a sub at forward in the 81st minute of Dynamo Dresdne’s 1-1 tie with Karlsruhe.

Portugal

Yohanna Buba started at centerback for Estoril against Penafiel and scored his club’s opening goal with a header in the 38th minute of their 3-2 victory. Buba’s goal was the second of the league season for the converted striker. Although he may have been slow to react on one of Penafiel’s goals, overall Buba played a solid match as Estoril continues their surprisingly good showing in the Portuguese SuperLiga. Albert Meyong started at forward for Vitoria Setubal in their 2-2 draw with Moreirense. Meyong did not have one of his better matches and was subbed out after 63 minutes.

Although he did not play over the weekend for Sporting Lisbon, Rudolph Douala did receive the all clear from the club’s doctors to play again for the club following his surgery last month. Douala is expected to be available for Sporting in this week’s UEFA Cup match against Feyenoord of Holland.

Turkey

Another Cameroonian centerback also had a good weekend as Rigobert Song once again played a strong match in leading Galatasaray’s defense in their 1-0 win over Sarkyaspor. With Song as the club’s defensive anchor, in their 5 matches since the winter break, Galatasaray’s defense has only permitted 1 goal.

Souleymanou Hamidou started at goalkeeper for Denizlispor as they drew 1-1 with Ankaraspor. Jean Emmanuel Effa Owona came on as a sub at forward for Ankaragucu in the 72nd minute of their scoreless draw with Sebatspor.

Greece

Three Cameroonians were on the field in Chalkidona’s 1-0 win over Aris Salonika. Pierre Ebede started at goalkeeper for Chalkidona and earned the shutout. Dorge Kouemaha started at forward for Aris Salonika and Samuel Inogue came on as a substitute at left side midfield for Aris in the 64th minute of the match.

Joel Epalle started at right side midfield for Iraklis and set up his club’s only goal as they lost 2-1 to AEK Athens. Epalle was subbed out after 66 minutes. Jean Denis Ouanga started at withdrawn forward for Kallithea in their 3-1 loss to PAOK Salonika before he left the match after 73 minutes. Nana Falemi made a very late cameo appearance in midfield for Ergotelis as they produced the shock of the weekend upsetting Olympiakos 2-1.

Spain

In Spain Samuel Eto’o and Barcelona increased their lead in the Spanish league to 7 points over Real Madrid with a 2-0 victory over Eto’o’s former club Mallorca. Eto’o started at forward and was his usual active self but did not have many clear opportunties to score. Both of Barcelona’s goals in the game came from midfielder Deco. Carlos Kameni and Espanyol were less fortunate, Kameni was in goal as Espanyol were beaten 3-2 by Malaga. Daniel Ngom Kome started at withdrawn froward for Getafe but, like the rest of his teammates, was well contained by Osasuna’s defense in the scoreless draw. Kome was replaced after 79 minutes. Osasuna’s Pierre Achille Webo missed the match due to the injury he sustained last week against Real Madrid. It is possible Webo may also have to miss next week’s league match as well.

France

It was a pretty uneventful week for Cameroon’s players in France. In Marseille’s 1-0 win over Bastia, Salomon Olembe started at left wing back for Marseille. Overall he defended pretty well in the match but he did have trouble at times with the speed of Bastia’s overlapping right sided player Pascal Chimbonda. Alexandre Song played centerback for Bastia alongside the club’s new signing French World Cup winner Christian Karembeu. The veteran’s experience wore off on Song who played a pretty strong match despite Bastia’s defeat.

Benoit Assou Ekotto played left back for Lens in their 2-0 victory over Nantes. Achille Emana was at right side midfield for Toulouse in his club’s 1-0 win over Bordeaux. Emana struggled a bit providing service to Daniel Moreira but picked up his play in the 2nd half.

Benoit Angbwa started at right back for Lille, who drew again, this time 1-1 with Metz. Like the rest of his colleagues, Angbwa did not have a stellar performance as Lille failed to gain ground on league leaders Lyon. Also not playing well, in a rare start for him, was Jean Hugues Ateba who played in midfield for PSG but was substituted out of the game at the start of the 2nd half as PSG eventually was beaten 3-1 by Strasbourg. Jean Joel Perrier Doumbe entered as a defensive sub in the closing moments of Rennes 4-1 win over Nice.

In Ligue 2, Pierre Njanka started at centerback for Sedan as they beat Reims 2-0. Marcus Mokake entered as a sub at forward for the winners in the 72nd minute. In Grenoble’s 2-1 win over Gueugnon, goalkeeper Gilbert Bayiha and centerback Bertin Tokene started for the victors. Alexis Ngambi surprisingly did not play for Gueugnon. In Le Havre’s 1-0 victory over Laval, Stephane Biakolo started at forward for LeHavre before leaving the match in the 77th minute. Ironically, countryman Joel Tchami entered the game for Laval at forward in the same minute as Biakolo left. Finally Eugene Ekobo was as usual in midfield for Creteil as they drew 2-2 with Chateauroux.

England

There was not any action in the English Premier League because of FA Cup matches. Timothee Atouba started at left back for Tottenham as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Championship (Second Division) club Nottingham Forest. Geremi received a rare start in midfield for Chelsea against Newcastle United but played without distinction and was subbed out after 45 minutes as Chelsea were beaten 1-0. In the Championship, Matthias Doumbe started at centerback but his club Plymouth were soundly beaten 5-0 by West Ham and Doumbe received a red card for a professional foul he committed in the 82nd minute which led to West Ham’s 5th goal via way of a penalty kick.

Italy

In Serie A, Pierre Wome again played left wing back for Brescia but they were defeated 2-1 by fellow strugglers Parma. This was probably the least noteworthy match Wome has played since he joined Brescia during the winter transfer period. Wome committed a foul inside the penalty area which became the penalty kick which was converted for Parma’s opening goal. In Serie B, Alain Bono entered as a sub in midfield in the 65th minute of Ternana’s 2-1 win over Arezzo.

Belgium

Racing Genk climbed into second place in the Belgian First Division (Jupiler League) with a 3-2 victory over Westerlo. Playing key roles in the club’s win were Justice Wamfor at defensive midfield and Eric Matoukou at centerback. Matthieu Assou Ekotto also was solid at defensive midfield for Standard Liege who drew 0-0 with Lokeren. Jeremie Njock started at forward for Mons but his club were defeated 1-0 by Charleroi and Njock was not able to get on the scoreboard but he did have one excellent effort denied by a good save by Charleroi’s goalkeeper. Samuel Ipoua started at forward and played 81 minutes for St. Trond as they were beaten 1-0 by Ostende.

Israel

It was a discreet weekend for Cameroon’s players in Israel as well. Ernest Etchi started at centerback and gave a good ahowing for Bnei Sakhnin as they defeated nazrath Illit 2-1. But countryman Kalle Sone , who started at forward, struggled and was repalced after 45 minutes. Forward Emile Mbamba also had a difficult game as his club Maccabi Tel Aviv lost their local derby to Hapoel Tel Aviv 3-0. Mbamba was subbed off after 61 minutes.

Switzerland

In the Swiss Super League, Augustine Simo started in midfield and played 80 minutes for Aarau as they were defeated 2-1 by Neuchatel Xamax. Armand Deumi’s club FC Thun had a bye this week due to the dissolving of Servette Geneva.

By Martin COUTLER

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