Tum Scores Twice, Eto’o Does It Again And Kouemaha Scores On Debut

Herve Tum scored twice for Metz, Samuel Eto’o keeps on scoring for Barcelona and Dorge Kouemaha scored on his debut for Aris Salonika in Greece highlighting a busy week for Cameroonian players throughout Europe. The goal was Etoo’s 16th of the league season placing him 4 ahead of his nearest rival Diego Forlan of Villarreal.

France

In France two rounds of matches were played last week. Midweek in Ligue 1, Achille Emana was the Cameroonian star. He played at right side midfield for Toulouse and was active throughout the match but it was not enough to help his team as they were defeated 1-0 by lowly Ajaccio. Herve Tum was also active at forward for Metz but it was not sufficient as his club were beaten 1-0 by Bordeuax. Benoit Assou Ekotto started at left back for Lens as they continued their slump, losing 1-0 to Caen. With Lille’s busy schedule of late, Jean Makoun was given a rest against Nice and his absence showed as Lille’s midfield was not as busy as normal. Benoit Angbwa did start at fullback for Lille as they drew the match 1-1.

Jean Joel Perrier Doumbe made a reappearance for Rennes at right back and played a steady game as his club were defeated by leaders Lyon 2-1. Salomon Olembe shook off recent criticisms from his coach and started at left back for Marseille giving an adequate performance in Marseille’s 2-0 loss to Sochaux. Youngster Alexandre Song had a rough time of it in central defense as did the rest of his Bastia teammates as they lost 4-1 to Auxerre. But it was this past weekend were Cameroon’s players shone in Ligue 1. Herve Tum scored twice as Metz beat Auxerre 3-0. In the 60th minute, Metz’ new Nigerian signing Bartholomew Ogbeche did good work on the right and his low cross was not cleared by Auxerre’s defense and Tum was there to pounce on the ball and knock it into the net. 3 minutes later Tum scored his second goal of the night, receiving the ball he spun towards goal and unleashed a powerful shot which went straight into the net. Also playing well over the weekend were both of Lille’s Cameroonians Benoit Angbwa and Jean Makoun. Angbwa started at right back and Makoun was in central midfield giving his usual active performance but Lille played a goalless draw with Caen. After the match and just before the close of the winter transfer window, Caen received Indomitable Lion forward/left winger Mohamadou Idrissou on loan until the end of the current season from Hannover in Germany’s Bundesliga. So Cameroon’s French legion has increased by one.

Marseille’s 3-1 victory over Toulouse saw Salomon Olembe and Achille Emana often matched up against one another as Olembe was Marseille’s left wing back while Emana was at right midfield for Toulouse. Olembe played one of his strongest games of recent times and helped Marseille secure the victory. Benoit Assou Ekotto played one of his better games recently at left back as Lens ended their losing skid by beating Strasbourg 2-1. The quantity of games played recently by Bastia has been taking a toil on Alexandre Song and he was given a rest against Lyon. But when one of Bastia’s defenders was sent off, Song entered the game as a sub in the 50th minute and his presence helped 10 man Bastia earn a 1-1 draw with high flying Lyon. Jean Joel Perrier Doumbe also came on this weekend as a sub entering Rennes’ 2-0 win over Bordeaux as a late defensive replacement. In Ligue 2 in the midweek matches,Pierre Njanka returned after a long absence through injury and started at centerback for Sedan in their 2-1 win over Amiens. Also playing at centerback were Alexis Ngambi for Gueugnon in their 2-1 win over LeMans and Montpellier’s Thierry Gathuessi in his club’s 3-1 loss to Guingamp. Creteil’s 0-0 draw with Grenoble had midfielder Eugene Ekobo starting for Creteil and goalkeeper Gilbert Bayiha and centerback Bertin Tokene for Grenoble. Meanwhile forward Stephane Biakolo entered as a sub for Lehavre in their 3-0 loss to Reims. Over the weekend, Pierre Njanka again was at centerback as Sedan defeated Clermont 2-0. He was unfortunately the only Cameroonian who emerged victorious over the weekend in Ligue 2. These players played in their clubs’ losses: Eugene Ekobo in midfield (Creteil 0-1 Brest); Julien N’Da at left back (Niort 0-2 Montpellier); Alexis Ngambi at centerback (Gueugnon 0-1 Laval) and Stephane Biakolo at forward (LeHavre 0-1 LeMans). Grenoble’s match this weekend was postponed due to bad weather.

Greece

In Greece, Aris Salonika gave a debut in midweek to new signing Dorge Kouemaha in their Greek Cup match versus 2nd Division Ethnikos. Kouemaha came on as a sub at forward in the 59th minute and scored the match winner in the 79th minute of Aris’ 2-1 win with a header. Countryman Samuel Inogue also entered as a sub at left midfield for Aris in the cup match. Over the weekend Both Inogue and Kouemaha again entered as subs in Aris’ match with league leaders Olympiakos. Inogue came on for an injured teammate in the 19th minute and set up his club’s goal in their 2-1 loss. Later in the match he almost tied the game as his shot hit the post. Kouemaha also came on as a sub in the 70th minute and he too had a chance to tie the match but could not convert his opportunity. Aris’ 3rd recent signing from Cameroon, defender Eugene Fomumbob also had a chance to play entering as a sub in the 81st minute. Chalkidona’s 0-0 draw with Iraklis had Cameroonian goalkeeper Pierre Ebede making 4 saves for Chalkidona. Joel Epalle started in midfield for Iraklis but unlike his recent games with his new club, he was not able to create many scoring opportunities. Guy Feutchine remains injured for PAOK Salonika. Midfielder Jean Denis Ouanga did come on as a sub in the 70th minute as his club Kallithea tied 1-1 with Ergotelis. During the week former Indomitable Lion Ngassam Nana Falemi, who has played his entire career in Romania, signed with Ergotelis increasing Cameroon’s contingent of players in the Greek First Division.

Spain

Samuel Eto’o was starting at forward as usual for Barcelona in their key match away to 4th place Sevilla. In a tight match Sevilla had slightly better of the play and had several apparently legitimate penalty appeals turned down when Barcelona struck to take the lead in the 49th minute. Ronaldinho slid a wonderfully weighted through ball into the left side of Sevilla’s penalty area for the onrushing Eto’o, who beat Sevilla’s goalie to the ball, took a dribble around him and hit a slow rollling ball into the empty net just avoiding the vain sliding attempts of two Sevilla defenders to clear the ball away. The goal was Eto’o’s 16th of the league season placing him 4 ahead of his nearest rival Diego Forlan of Villarreal. That goal also opened the flood gates and Barcelona went on to score a convincing 4-0 win over Sevilla. Pierre Achille Webo again was starting at forward for Osasuna in their match against Deportivo. Webo and his teammates were having a frustrating time of it as they, including the Cameroonian forward, missed several good opportunities to score when in the 65th minute Webo took the ball to the left end line inside Deportivo’s penalty area and his hard low shot/cross was knocked into the net at the near post for an own goal by Deportivo defender Pablo Amo. Webo was later substituted in the 77th minute of the game and Deportivo eventually tied the game as it ended 1-1. Carlos Kameni was in goal for Espanyol as they drew 2-2 with Betis. Kameni may have made an error in not properly clearing a ball which led to Betis’ first goal but overall he once again played a solid match for his club who moved into 4th place in Spain with the tie.

Turkey

Midfielder Alioum Saidou was loaned to the end of the season by Galatasaray to Malatyaspor. Saidou debuted for his new team this weekend as Turkish league play resumed after the winter break. He started in midfield but Malatyaspor lost 1-0 to Besiktas. Rigobert Song again was at centerback for Galatasaray as they beat Konyaspor 2-0. Souleymanou Hamidou started at goalkeeper for Denizlispor as they were defeated 3-1 by Gaziantepspor. In Ankaragucu’s 2-1 loss to Samsunspor both Herve Zengue and Jean Emmanuel Effa Owona came on as subs in the 73rd minute at midfield and forward respectively. Forward Claude Bakadal came on as a sub in the 87th minute of Sebatspor’s 2-1 loss to Ankaraspor.

Germany

In the Bundesliga, Lucien Mettomo continues to start for Kaiserslautern at centerback since play resumed following the winter break. Mettomo played a pretty good game as Kaiserslautern beat Schalke 2-0. Raymond Kalla was at centerback for Bochum as they were overrun by Bayer Leverkusen 4-0. In Bundesliga 2, Francis Kioyo started at forward for Rot Weiss Essen in their 2-2 draw with Eintracht Trier. Daniel Wansi entered as an attacking sub for Dynamo Dresden in their 1-0 loss to Energie Cottbus.

England

It was FA Cup week in England and only two Cameroonians were in action. Timothee Atouba played at left side midfield for Tottenham in their 1-1 draw with West Brom. Joseph Desire Job came on as a sub at forward for Middlesbrough at the start of the second half in his club’s 3-0 defeat by Manchester United.

Scotland

Two rounds of league play took place last week in Scotland. Gustave Bahoken’s Livingston played twice and lost both matches to remain bottom of the table. Midweek Bahoken started at centerback as Livingston lost 2-1 to Hearts. Over the weekend, he played the same position as Rangers beat his club 3-0.

Portugal

Only two Cameroonians played over the weekend in Portugal. Yohanna Buba started at centerback and struggled a bit as Estoril and Uniao Leira drew 1-1. Albert Meyong started at forward for Vitoria Setubal in their 1-1 draw with Sporting Lisbon but he too had a hard time of it and was subbed out after 61 minutes.

Belgium

In Belgium’s Jupiler League, Matthieu Assou Ekotto started at defensive midfield and played solidly for Standard Liege in their 4-0 win over Cercle Bruges. Eric Matoukou at centerback and Justice Wamfor at defensive midfield started for Racing Genk in their 3-1 victory over Lokeren. In St. Trond’s 3-2 win over Mouscron, Samuel Ipoua came on as a sub at forward in the 63rd minute for St. Trond. Patrice Noukeu started in midfield for Mouscron.

Italy

In Italy’s Serie B, Thomas Job Iyock started at right side midfield for Pescara in their 2-2 draw with Genoa. In the 87th minute Job Iyock scored the game tying goal, the 4th of the season for the 20 year old. Antonio Ghomsi started at centerback for Salernitana in their 1-1 tie with Ternana. Alain Bono did not play for Ternana due to injury.

Israel

Forward Kalle Sone, who has been out of contract for awhile since leaving Vitesse Arnhem, signed with Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin, the same club where Ernest Etchi plays. This weekend both Sone (at forward) and Etchi (at centerback) started in their club’s 2-1 loss to Hapoel Tel Aviv. Sone was subbed out at the start of the 2nd half and Etchi ended up getting sent off after receiving two yellow cards. When he was sent off Bnei Sakhnin were leading 1-0. Emile Mbamba came on as a sub at forward for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 87th minute of their 1-0 win over Beitar Jerusalem. Over the winter break Maccabi Tel Aviv signed a new forward Latvian Andrejs Prohorenkovs and that has seemed to relegate Mbamba to a substitute’s role. Martin COUTLER, martin@camfoot.com

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