This past weekend in Europe had more Cameroon goalscorers than any other week since we have started this weekly review. While much attention was placed on Samuel Eto’o’s knee injury in Barcelona’s game against Real Madrid, thankfully it was not serious and he will only miss about 10 days of action. In Spain not only did Samuel Eto’o score this weekend but so did Pierre Webo. Also scoring this weekend were Eric Matoukou in Belgium, Pierre Wome in Italy and Stephane Andre Bikey in Russia. In addition both Joel Epalle in Greece and Emile Mbamba in Israel scored twice. This weekend also was the first day of the new league seasons in Norway, Sweden and Latvia.
Spain
Throughout the match Eto’o caused danger for Madrid’s defenders but in the 78th minute, while running alone, he fell to the ground as his right knee buckled and was substituted out of the match. First reports were that the injury was serious but after further tests, following the reduction of his swelling, it was determined that the injury was a strained ligament in his right knee and that the Cameroonian forward would only miss 10 days which would include Barcelona’s upcoming matches against Getafe at home and on the road at Malaga. With Madrid closing the distance between they and Barcelona, the Catalan club will need Eto’o and his 21 goals back as soon as possible.
Elsewhere in Spain, Pierre Achille Webo scored the only goal of the game as Osasuna won their first match of 2005 by beating Racing Santander 1-0. In the 48th minute a free kick was swung in from the left and Osasuna’s Richard Morales at the far post headed the ball across the face of the goal to Webo who at the near post headed the ball into the net for his 5th goal of the season. In the 90th minute, Webo was subbed off to an ovation from Osasuna’s fans.
Daniel Ngom Kome started at left side attacking midfielder for Getafe in their 1-0 win over Albacete but was substituted out at the start of the 2nd half. Kome’s recent appearance in Cameroon’s victory over Sudan was the first time in his club’s history that a Getafe player made an international appearance. Carlos Kameni was in goal in Espanyol’s clash with fellow Champions League contenders Sevilla. The Cameroonian goalie made several good saves during the match to keep the score at 2-1 but in the dying seconds of the game he was ordered to go forward on a corner kick which was cleared by Sevilla’s defense and the opposing team had a break away on the other end which they scored into an empty net on the final kick of the match to make the score 3-1. With the loss Espanyol fell to 6th place in the league but they are still involved in a tight race for a Champions League birth in Spain.
Italy
Pierre Wome was Brescia’s hero in Italy’s Serie A. Trailing league leaders Milan 1-0 in the 87th minute, Wome, received a pass laid off to him by a teammate outside the penalty area and with his powerful left foot fired a low hard shot inside Milan goalie Dida’s left hand post for the tying goal as the match ended 1-1. Wome, who has played in all of Brescia’s 8 matches since he was signed during the winter break, played as a defensive midfielder this week instead of where he has normally played for the club, as a left wing back. In Serie B, Thomas Job Iyock returned from injury by coming on as a halftime sub at right side midfield for Pescara in their 2-0 loss to Salernitana.
Belgium
In Belgium Eric Matoukou returned from the injury which caused him to miss Cameroon’s recent game with Sudan by starting in Racing Genk’s 2-0 win over St. Trond in the Limbourg derby. In the 15th minute Matoukou opened the scoring by heading in a corner kick for his first goal with Genk. As he was still a bit short of match fitness, Matoukou was subbed out after 78 minutes. Justice Wamfor also started at defensive midfield for Genk and gave his typical solid performance. Also playing well at defensive midfield was Matthieu Assou Ekotto who started there for Standard Liege in their 1-1 draw with league leaders FC Bruges. Patrice Noukeu also played in midfield this week for Mouscron as they defeated Lierse 1-0.
Portugal
William Andem was suspended for his role in last week’s melee against Sporting Lisbon and thus missed Boavista’s victory over crosstown rivals FC Porto. Rudolph Douala is still recovering from the injury which he suffered in Cameroon’s last international match but is expected to be ready to play this week for Sporting Lisbon in the UEFA Cup against Newcastle United. But Douala was healthy enough to make a cameo appearance this week coming on as a 72nd minute substitute in Sporting Lisbon’s 1-0 victory over Beira Mar. Albert Meyong came on as a sub at forward for Vitoria Setubal after only 6 minutes but had an ineffective game in his club’s scoreless draw with Gil Vicente. Yohanna Buba entered as a sub at centerback for Estoril after 28 minutes with his club down 1-0 and played a strong game as his club eventually lost by that score to Sporting Braga.
Greece
Turkey
Rigobert Song started at centerback for Galatasaray but his 2nd place club lost 2-0 to 3rd place Trabzonspor, severely denting the hopes of Song’s club of overtaking 1st place Fenerbahce. Alioum Saidou started and played 70 minutes at midfield for Malatyaspor as they defeated Istanbulspor 2-0. Goalkeeper Souleymanou Hamidou kept a clean sheet as Denizlispor beat Rizespor 3-0.
France
It was a pretty quiet week for Cameroon’s contingent of players in France. In Ligue 1 Lille’s match against Monaco was postponed till later in the month because of the death of Prince Rainier of Monaco. Jean Joel Perrier Doumbe did a good job of winning the ball as he played right back for Rennes in their 2-0 victory over Toulouse. Achille Emana started and played 69 minutes without much success at right side midfield for Toulouse. Benoit Assou Ekotto was solid as Lens’ left back in their scoreless draw with Nice. Herve Tum started at forward for Metz as they beat Caen 1-0 but Tum played without much note in the match. Salomon Olembe came on as a sub at left back for Marseille after 60 minutes of their 1-0 loss to Strasbourg and Paul Essola came on off the bench as a midfield substitute for Bastia in the 73rd minute of his club’s 3-0 loss to St. Etienne.
In Ligue 2, Thierry Gathuessi started at centerback for Montpellier in his club’s 3-1 victory over Grenoble. Bertin Tokene played at centerback for the losing club. Eugene Ekobo started in midfield for Creteil in his club’s 1-0 loss to Nancy. Alexis Ngambi started at centerback as Gueugnon lost 1-0 to new Ligue 2 leaders Troyes and Julien N’Da came on as a defensive sub in the 72nd minute of Niort’s 3-1 win over Amiens.
Russia
Centerback Stephane Andre Bikey scored Shinnik Yaroslavl’s only goal in the 65th minute of their 1-1 tie with Alania Vladivkavkaz. Serge Branco also played at outside midfield for Shinnik. Jerry Christian Tchuisse also started but at right back for FK Moscow in his club’s scoreless tie with Amkar Perm.
England
With Eric Djemba Djemba and Joseph Desire Job both injured, Timothee Atouba still suspended and both Valery Mezague and Matthias Doumbe out of favor at their respective clubs, Lauren was the only Cameroonian to see action in England this past weekend. After only two minutes of Arsenal’s game with Middlesbrough, Lauren received a yellow card for a two footed challenge and overall ended up having a pretty non descript afternoon after that in Arsenal’s 1-0 win.
Israel
It was the round of 16 in Israel’s Cup competition and forward Emile Mbamba was one of the stars as he scored two of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s goals in their 3-2 win over SC Ashdod. Mbamba scored in the 2nd and 78th minutes. Centerback Ernest Etchi started for Cup holders Bnei Sakhnin but they were knocked out by 2nd Division Hakoach Ramat Gan.
Switzerland
In Switzerland there was a battle of Cameroonian centerbacks as Armand Deumi’s FC Thun played Jean Pierre Tchetchoua’s Aarau. Deumi played a very solid match as Thun overran Aarau 7-1. Tchetchoua, and the rest of his club’s defense, were outmatched in the game.
Germany
The new season began in many northern European leagues with Cameroonian players. In the opening game in Sweden, Joseph Elanga started at left back for champions Malmö as they played title contenders IFK Gothenburg. Elanga played his usual steady game but Malmö were beaten in their home opener 2-1. Midfielder, and former Union Douala captain, Somen A Tchoyi made his debut for Odd Grenland in Norway. Tchoyi had a strong game in central midfield as his club drew 1-1 with Tromso. In Latvia, the Cameroonian contingent of players has increased. Aaron Nguimbats started at centerback as defending champions Skonto Riga beat Venta 3-0. Skonto’s new signing from crosstown rivals FK Riga, forward Parfait Ngon did not play in the match. Coming on as a substitute for Venta after 56 minutes was their new signing central defender and former espoirs (U-23) player Jean Paul Ndjoumeck.
In Denmark, Patrice Kwedi entered as a sub in midfield after 38 minutes as his club AGF Aarhus lost 1-0 to Herfloge. After leaving FK Drnovice in the Czech Republic during the winter break, and unsuccessful trials with FC Dallas and Columbus in the United States, centerback Patrice Abanda sigend with FK Teplice, who currently are 2nd in the Czech league. Midweek Abanda came on as a sub in the 73rd minute as his new club were beaten by Drnovice, his old one, 2-0. Over the weekend, Abanda entered as a sub in the 87th minute of Teplice’s 1-0 win over Opava. In Bulgaria, goalkeeper Daniel Bekono kept a clean scoresheet as Beroe drew 0-0 with Nesebar.
In the Americas, centerback Mustafa and forward Antoine Helha started for Plaza Colonia as they drew 0-0 with Cerrito in Uruguay. In the United States, Alain Nkong started in midfield and played the first half of Colorado’s scoreless tie with FC Dallas.
By Martin COUTLER, martin@camfot.com
