a écrit le 12 avril 2005 à 21h27 Canon Yaoundé, one of Africa's leading clubs, has become the first team in the continent to recruit a Japanese footballer.
21-year-old midfielder Kimitoshi Nogawa, who has a one-year deal with Canon, started training with his new team mates on Monday.
Theophile Abega, Canon's general manager, told BBC Sport that two other players from the Asian country are expected to join the club very soon.
"They are not coming here for money, because no club in Cameroon can pay a player from Japan, one of the richest countries in the world," Abega said.
"The players have been encouraged to play in Cameroon because of our country's football reputation.
"This is our own contribution to the globalisation of football, as these players are coming to discover Cameroon after admiring players like Patrick Mboma, who played in Japan."
Nogawa is in Cameroon thanks to a deal between Canon and Komodo Sport.
This is our own contribution to the globalisation of football, as these players are coming to discover Cameroon after admiring players like Patrick Mboma
Theophile Abega, Canon's general manager
Komodo Sport is a sports management company based in Indonesia and owned by Maboang Kessack, who played for Cameroon at the 1990 World Cup.
About 1,000 fans came to Canon's ground to watch Nogawa in training.
Nogawa, who said he was excited at the prospect of playing in Cameroon's top division, told BBC Sport he was determined to make a success of his stay in the Central African country.
"I like the pitch and the players, as they are very strong and tactical," Nogawa told BBC Sport after his debut training session.
But to get a first-team place with one of Africa's leading clubs, Nogawa will have to overcome physical, climatic and language problems.
He speaks no French and just a little English, the two official languages in Cameroon.
21-year-old midfielder Kimitoshi Nogawa, who has a one-year deal with Canon, started training with his new team mates on Monday.
Theophile Abega, Canon's general manager, told BBC Sport that two other players from the Asian country are expected to join the club very soon.
"They are not coming here for money, because no club in Cameroon can pay a player from Japan, one of the richest countries in the world," Abega said.
"The players have been encouraged to play in Cameroon because of our country's football reputation.
"This is our own contribution to the globalisation of football, as these players are coming to discover Cameroon after admiring players like Patrick Mboma, who played in Japan."
Nogawa is in Cameroon thanks to a deal between Canon and Komodo Sport.
This is our own contribution to the globalisation of football, as these players are coming to discover Cameroon after admiring players like Patrick Mboma
Theophile Abega, Canon's general manager
Komodo Sport is a sports management company based in Indonesia and owned by Maboang Kessack, who played for Cameroon at the 1990 World Cup.
About 1,000 fans came to Canon's ground to watch Nogawa in training.
Nogawa, who said he was excited at the prospect of playing in Cameroon's top division, told BBC Sport he was determined to make a success of his stay in the Central African country.
"I like the pitch and the players, as they are very strong and tactical," Nogawa told BBC Sport after his debut training session.
But to get a first-team place with one of Africa's leading clubs, Nogawa will have to overcome physical, climatic and language problems.
He speaks no French and just a little English, the two official languages in Cameroon.
