Eto’o Scores Twice Against Former Club, Geremi’s Goal Leads Chelsea To Victory

Club football returned around the globe after the break for international matches and Cameroon’s players were busy scoring goals. Samuel Eto’o recovered from a clash of heads with a teammate earlier in the week in training to score two headed goals against his old club Mallorca. Geremi received a rare start for Chelsea and responded by scoring the opening goal in their league win. In Portugal Albert Meyong scored his 3rd goal of the season while in Norway teammates Patrick Suffo and Somen A Tchoyi scored in their club’s win and in Finland Serge N’Gal netted another goal. Meanwhile in Ireland Joseph Ndo scored after running with the ball from beyond the halfway line.

Spain

Samuel Eto’o spent a night in hospital earlier in the week as a precaution after he clashed heads with a teammate in training. But Eto’o recovered in time to play for Barcelona against his former club Mallorca. In the 26th minute Eto’o scored the game’s first goal as he nodded in a cross from the left wing past Mallorca’s goalie. The ball bounced in front of the keeper and slipped past his vain dive to stop the shot. 6 minutes later Eto’o scored his 2nd goal of the game as Ludovic Giuly’s hard hit shot was deflected by the Mallorca goalkeeper onto the bar but Eto’o was quick to react to the rebound and nodded the ball in from point blank range. In the 2nd half Eto’o and his teammates had several more opportunities to score but they could not get another goal and settled for a 2-0 victory.

Carlos Kameni shook off the disappointment of not being selected for the Indomitable Lions match against Cote d’Ivoire by playing an excellent match in goal for Espanyol in their 2-1 win over Malaga. Kameni made several key stops to prevent Malaga from tying the match. Pierre Achille Webo, Cameroon’s World Cup qualifying match winning hero, came on as a substitute for Osasuna in the 74th minute of their 1-0 loss to Real Betis. In the 2nd Division, Daniel Ngom Kome started at attacking midfielder for Ciudad de Murcia and played 84 minutes in their 2-1 win over Real Madrid Castilla, the reserve team of Real Madrid.

England

Geremi Ndjitap received a rare start for Chelsea in their English Premier League match against newly promoted Sunderland. Geremi played right back and scored Chelsea’s opening goal in the 58th minute of their 2-0 win. Geremi’s hard shot squeezed under Sunderland’s keeper as Chelsea maintaiend their unbeaten record in league play in the new season. Lauren also started at right back and played an aggressive match for Arsenal but it was not enough as they surprisingly lost 2-1 to Middlesbrough.

In the Championship, the effective 2nd Division of English football, central defender Mathias Doumbe had a disastrous day for Plymouth. In the 20th minute a deflected shot struck his legs and trickled into the net for an own goal while later in the match, Doumbe’s failed challenge allowed a Norwich forward to advance into the penalty area and score the 2nd goal in Norwich’s 2-0 win over Plymouth.

Portugal

Albert Meyong continued his excellent start to the new season in Portugal. In the 57th minute Meyong scored his 3rd goal of the league season in as many matches as Belenenses defeated Penafiel 3-0. Rodolphe Douala played right side midfield as Sporting Lisbon notched a big 2-1 win in the Lisbon derby over champions Benfica. Douala was subbed out of the match after 76 minutes. Goalkeeper William Andem started for Boavista in their 4-1 win over Pacos Ferreira. In the 2nd Division, Yohanna Buba played centerback for Estoril as they beat Moreirense 2-1. Playing in midfield for Moreirense in that match was Clement Beaud.

Germany

Timothee Atouba kept up his nice start to the new season playing left back for Hamburg in their 3-1 win over Mainz in Germany’s Bundesliga. Lucien Mettomo had a more difficult match struggling at centerback as Kaiserslautern were overwhelmed 5-1 by Werder Bremen. In the 2nd Division, Marc Gouiffe a Goufan came on as a sub at defensive midfield in the 33rd minute of Paderborn’s 1-0 win over Ahlen.

France

In a week in which he announced his intention to play for Cameroon, French born Benoit Assou Ekotto made French newspaper L’Equipe‘s team of the week (L’equipe type). Assou Ekotto played left back for Lens in their 1-1 draw with Bordeaux and once again showed his ability to overlap down the left flank. Jean Makoun also played a strong match this past weekend but in midfield for Lille as they beat Metz 2-0. Modeste Mbami and Jean Hugues Ateba also had a good showing in midfield and defense for PSG as they beat Strasbourg 1-0 to stay in 2nd place in the league behind Lyon. Not playing as well was Achille Emana who was in midfield for Toulouse as they lost 2-0 to LeMans.

Bill Tchato played left back for Nice in their 1-0 loss to St-Etienne while Jean Joel Perrier Doumbe played well at right back for Rennes as they won 3-0 over Auxerre. In Ligue 2 Eugene Ekobo captained Creteil from his centerback position as they drew 0-0 with Brest for whom Bertin Tokene played central defense. Sedan’s 2-1 win over Grenoble also saw a battle of Cameroonians. Marcus Mokake played the game’s first 62 minutes for Sedan at attacking midfielder while Gilbert Bayiha was in goal for Grenoble. Patrick Leugueun played centerback for Istres in their 1-1 tie with Dijon.

Belgium

Pius Ndiefi made his debut for his new club Germinal Beerschot in Belgium’s Jupiler League. He started at forward and played the first 67 minutes of his club’s 2-1 loss to Zulte Waregem. Eric Matoukou started at centerback for Racing Genk as they lost to Ghent (aka La Gantoise) 2-0. Justice Wamfor entered as a substitute in midfield for Genk in the last few minutes of that match. Patrice Noukeu started in midfield for Mouscron as they were beaten 3-1 by league leaders Anderlecht.

Italy

In Serie B, Alain Bono started at right back for Ternana as his club drew 2-2 with Pescara. Thomas Job Iyock played right side midfield for Cremonese as they lost 2-0 to Hellas Verona.

Ireland

In Ireland former Indomitable Lions player Joseph Ndo came on as a substitute in midfield in the first half and just before the half ended he scored Shelbourne’s first goal in their 2-0 win over Shamrock Rovers. Ndo, who had been out of action for over a month, picked up the ball in Shamrock Rovers half of the field then went on a solo run beating several defenders before sliding the ball past the opposing goalie.

Turkey

Just before the close of the transfer window, Konyaspor acquired forward Gustave Bebbe Mbengue from Cotonsport. Bebbe Mbengue did not play this week for his new club but plenty of other Cameroonians were in action. Raymond Kalla received his first start for Sivasspor playing centerback for his new club in their 2-0 loss to league leaders Galatasaray. Rigobert Song at centerback and Alioum Saidou in midfield started as usual for Galatasaray. Herve Zengue played midfield for Ankaragucu in their scoreless tie with Denizlispor, whose goalkeeper was Indomitable Lions netminder Souleymanou Hamidou. Jean Emmanuel Effa Owona played the first half at forward for Malatyaspor in their 1-1 draw with Erciyesspor. Boukar Alioum played in goal for Samsunspor as they tied 1-1 with Manisaspor.

Greece

Guy Feutchine played right side midfield for PAOK Salonika as they drew 2-2 with Atromitos. Joel Epalle played in midfield for Iraklis as they lost 2-0 to AEK Athens.

Russia

Forward Simon Atangana was acquired by Terek Grozny from Lokomotiv Minsk in Belarus just before the break for international matches. Atangana came on as a substitute this past weekend in the 81st minute of Terek’s 2-1 loss to Spartak Moscow. Jerry Christian Tchuisse played right back for FK Moscow in their 2-0 win over Alania Vladikavkaz. Serge Branco played left back for Shinnik Yaroslavl but was red carded in the 53rd minute of their 2-0 loss to CSKA Moscow.

Eastern Europe

Patrick Ebanda played defensive midfield for Arsenal Kyiv as his club played a scoreless draw with Shakhtor Donetsk in Ukraine. In Serbia & Montenegro, Pierre Boya started and played the first 70 minutes at forward for Partizan Belgrade as they defeated Zemun 2-0. In Croatia, Mathais Chago played in midfield for Dinamo Zagreb as they drew 0-0 with main rivals Hajduk Split. In Bosnia, William Tabi was in midfield for Siroki Brijeg as his club won 2-1 over Orasje. In Poland Ferdinand Chifon started in midfield and set up one of his club’s goals as GKS Belchatow drew 2-2 with Groclin Grodzisk. Francois Endene Elokan came on as a midfield sub after 79 minutes for Pogon Szczecin as they lost 2-1 to Wisla Krakow. In Latvia, Jean Paul Ndjoumeck started at centerback for FK Ventspils as they continued Skonto Riga’s woes with a 1-0 win over the Riga club which has won the Latvia title for 14 years running. Playing the first half at centerback for Skonto was Aaron Nguimbat.

Scandinavia

In Norway Patrick Suffo started at forward and scored Odd Grenland’s opening goal in the 36th minute of their 2-1 win over Lyn Oslo. Suffo left the match at the beginning of the 2nd half but his teammate midfielder Somen A Tchoyi scored the game winner in the 67th minute. In Finland, forward Serge N’Gal scored the match winner in the 67th minute for Inter Turku as they defeated KuPS 3-2. Marc Ndikumade played in midfield for TP 47 as they beat FF Jaro 2-0. In Sweden Joseph Elanga played left back for Malmo as they lost a key match to new league leaders Djurgardens 2-0.

South America

Duplex Kamga was finally cleared to play in Uruguay and made his league debut this week for Wanderers in their 3-2 win over Plaza Colonia. Unfortunately midfielder Kamga was red carded in the match. Playing centerback for Plaza was Alain Yombi. Forward Valery Sone also made his league debut coming on as a substitute in the 57th minute for Paysandu in their 5-0 loss to Nacional, the club where Sone played in their youth division.

North Africa

The new league season began in Algeria with 2 rounds of play and several Cameroonians were in action. Stephane Philippe Nankop started at forward for CABBA in their 1-0 loss to WA Tlemclen. Later in the week Nankop again played forward for CABBA as they drew 1-1 with ASO Chlef. Entering as a sub at forward in the 62nd minute for CABBA in that match was Jean Paul Yontcha. MC Oran only played one match during the week, beating USM Annaba 2-1. Augustin Binya started at left side midfield and Joseph Fotso at forward for MC Oran.

Asia

The regular season ended in Indonesia and the top 4 teams in each conference move on to the playoffs. In the West Conference, Persija Jakarta’s Roger Batoum emerged as the top scorer with 15 goals in 26 league matches. Last week Batoum scored twice in the 26th (via penalty kick) and 48th minutes as Persija Jakarta defeated Persekota 4-0. Also playing at centerback for Persija was Guy Gerard Ambassa. Serge Emaleu scored in the 3rd minute as Arema Malang beat Persib 1-0. Placide Zoalang was in midfield as Sriwijaya defeated PSPS 4-1. Rudolph Ebendje’s Deltras lost 1-0 to PSMS. Later in the week, Zoalang’s Sriwijaya beat Semen Padang 3-1, Emaleu’s Arema defeated Persikota 5-0 with Emaleu netting another goal, Batoum’s and Ambassa’s Persija beat Persib 3-0 and Ebendje’s Deltras drew 0-0 with PSDS.
Persija led the west conference in points and qualified for the playoffs Arema also made the playoffs from this sector. Deltras was relegated.

In the eastern Conference, forward Timothee Ebanda scored twice in the 37th and 75th minutes as Persijap Jepara beat Persiba 5-0. Persipura Jayapura (with Joseph Lenglolo and Eric Mbenga), PSM Makassar (with Herman Abanda), Persik Kediri and defending champions Persebaya made the playoffs from the eastern Conference.

In Malaysia the Malaysia Cup reached the semifinal stages. Bernard Tchoutang started at forward in both legs of Pahang’s quarterfinal matchup with Perlis. Tchoutang even scored in the 78th minute of the 2nd leg but Pahang went out 3-2 on aggregate as Tchoutang and his Jamaican strike partner missed several opportunities to send their club through. Giant central defender Alain Njoh Njoh played well for Melaka Telekom but it was not enough as his club were knocked out 2-1 on aggregate by Perak.

In Singapore, club top scorer Ludovic Kengne played forward for Ballestier Khalsa and scored twice in the 3rd and 64th minutes and set up the club’s other goal as they beat Sinchi 3-0. Defender Moise Moudourou played for lowly Paya Lebar Punggol in their 2-3 loss to Home United.

In China, Clement Lebe played sweeper for Liaoning as they lost 1-0 to Sichuan. Didier Njewel at forward and Albert Baning at defensive midfield played for Shanghai Zobon in their scoreless draw with Qiangdao Zhongneng. In China’s 2nd Division, onetime Indomitable Lion Bertin Bayard Tomou played forward and scored a goal for Zhejiang Lucheng as they beat Yanbian 2-0.

By Martin COUTLER

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