The Absence of Njie Cliton in the First 11 Persists.

Indomitable Lions:

The Absence of Njie Cliton in the First 11 Persists.

By Dominic Elempia F.

Once again the head coach has given a deaf ear to supporters of the Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions as the rising star of the lions Njie Cliton was left on the bench in a friendly against Indonesia on March 25.  The Olympic Lyonais Striker has been in fine form in recent months netting some important goals for his side in the French League One.

The battle for a first team choice for Njie Clinton has gone beyond the Nations Cup during which many Cameroonians cried foul play on the case of the Buea Boy. So many unconfirmed reasons were advanced as to the reason why the German striker decided to leave him on the bench all through the Nations Cup. Amongst others was the influence of Football managers on the national team to see their players play thereby comprising meritocracy in the Lion’s Den, the bad relationship between FECAFOOT Secretary General Tombi a Roko and the president of Ecole de Brasseries which Njie Clinton passed through and some even went as far as attributing it to his region of origin.  Being an Anglophone the Francophone football administrators could not see him replacing Samuel Eto’o.

After much criticism at the nation’s cup many expected to see Papi Muclala as he is fondly called in the lion’s shirts once again but that was not the case in the lion’s first outing after the AFCON. He was left out for the entire game. We are still to confirm whether he was injured or not.

Cameroon came out victorious though, with a 35^th minute strike from the Captain of the day Aboubakar Vincent making the difference of the match; Cameroon 1 – 0 Indonesia.

The match stated with Fabrice Ondoua at the goal,  Henri Bedimo at the left wing,  Chedjou and new comer Gweni Ndassi at the central defense and Oyongo Bitolo later replaced by Jerome Gihoata at the 79^th minute at the right back.

In the midfield Volke Finke played Eyong Enoh, Cedric Loe, Moukandjo,  Dani Ndi who was later replaced by Guy Christian Zock at the 75^th minute. While Aboukakar Vincent captain of the day due to the absence of Stephane Mbia and Vice-captain Choupo Moting and Leonard Kwekeu mounted the attack line.

Cameroon plays Thailand in another friendly on Saturday March 28. 

How Strong is the 20 Man List of Folke Finke to face Indonesia and Thailand?

Matip Makes a comeback, Mandjeck pays the ultimate Price

Matip makes a come back after Brazil 2014

The controversy of who  is to play for the Cameroonian national team or what criteria is used to select players still looms in the air as a 20 man list is published for two friendlies in the next FIFA international window, with some talented players left out and some questionable new call ups.

The indomitable Lions plays against Indonesia on the 25th March and Thailand on the 28th March 2015. The greatest news is the return of Joel Matip. The schalke 04 defender took a break after the frustrating debacle in Brazil last summer. His return has come to boost the defense line and could allow team captain Stephan Mbia to play in the midfield.  Other plausible news is the return of Enoh Eyong after a harm string injury that kept him out of the AFCON.

However, one cannot help but question the selection of players like Frank Kom a.k.a ‘remplacent remplaccé’.  The selection of Oyongo Bitolo who has not played any competitive football since the nations cup is also a course for concern.  While the absence of George Mandjeck, a dynamic midfielder who has imposed  himself making the lions to play constructive football could be the biggest question mark in the 20 man list.

With all the controversy of our national team, the 20 man list by Folke Finke is only a reminder to Cameroonians that nothing has changed and nobody wants to change the status quo. The issue of Managers and FECAFOOT officials imposing their players on the coach is clearly reflected on this list.

Goal Keepers

1. Fabrice Ondoua : FC Barcelonne II
2. Ndy-Assembe : FC Nancy

 Defenders

1. Jerome Guihoata : Valenciennes
2. Aurelien Chedjou : Galatasaray
3. Joël Matip : Schalke
4. Franck Bagnack : FC Barcelone
5. Yaya Banana : AO Platanias
6. Moussa Bana : Cotonsports
7. Henri Bedimo : Lyon
8. Oyongo Bitolo : sans club

Midfielders

1. Stéphane Mbia : FC Seville
2. Enoh Eyong : Standard Liège
3. Raoul Loe : CA Osasuna
4. Franck Kom : Etoile de Sousse

Attaackers

1. Dana Ndi : Sporting Gijon
2. Vincent Aboubakar : FC Porto
3. Benjamin Moukandjo : Reims
4. Léonard Kweuke : Rizespor
5. Clinton Njie : Lyon
6. Franck Etoundi : FC Zurich

ATP Rankings: The Eminent Shakeup of the top four Underway as NADAL Drops to 4^th on the ATP World ranking

T

hirteen  times grand slam champion Rafael Nadal has fallen in the ATP ranking from the 3^rd to the 4^th  position . After   having enjoyed the luxury of the first three for so long, the Spanish Tennis icon slipped from the first trio for the first time since August 2013. His fall came as a result of his first loss at a semi-final on clay for the past 12 years to Italy’s Fabio Fognini at the ATP Rio Open- Brazil.

 Novak Djokovic retains his steely grip on the rankings ahead of Roger Federer.

With the king of clay slipping, the eminent shakeup of the first four on the ATP ranking could be underway with young and talented players proving their worth in the likes of Japanese international Kei Nishikori, Canadian born Milos Raonic and the young Grigor Dimitrov from Bulguria. It should be noted that for almost a decade now, the first four have been held by Swiss Maestro Roger Federer, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic , the king of Clay Rafael Nadal and Britain’s Andy Murray.

1. Novak Djokovic (SRB)           13,045

2. Roger Federer (SUI)               9,205

3. Andy Murray (GBR)                5,460

4. Rafael Nadal (ESP)                  5,425

5. Kei Nishikori (JPN)                 5,205

6. Milos Raonic (CAN)                4,980

7. Stan Wawrinka (SUI)             4,595

8. Tomas Berdych (CZE)           4,460

9. David Ferrer (ESP)                 4,185

10. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)       3,465

11. Marin Cilic (CRO)                  3,450

12. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 2,395

13. Feliciano Lopez (ESP)         2,325

14. Ernests Gulbis (LAT)           2,125

15. Kevin Anderson (RSA)       2,125

16. Gilles Simon (FRA)               2,095

17. Roberto Bautista (ESP)       2,020

18. Tommy Robredo (ESP)      1,755

19. Gael Monfils (FRA)               1,740

20. John Isner (USA)                   1,720

NOUCK Protus Poised to Revam SW FECAFOOT

South West FECAFOOT ELECTIONS

Nouck Protus Vows to Give South West FECAFOOT a New Facelift

“We shall put our experience, our time, our connections and our passions at the service of football in the South West Region” Nouck Protus, Candidate for the President of SOUTH WEST FECAFOOT 

       The founding president of Little Foot FC academy Tiko Mr. Nouck Protus,  is promising a new vision for the South West Regional Football governing body FECAFOOT. The Football visionary declared his intention of running for this post after observing that South West football has been in ruins for the past decade.

              The battle for the presidency is going to be tough as the incumbent, Senator Mbella Moki Charles and Mr. Eteki Charles, former coordinator of Youth Football under the regime of Senator Mbella Moki Charles, are equally vying for the post.

               Amidst this turbulent race, Mr. Nouck Protus remains confident and relies on his good intensions to bring back South West Football on the rails and the fact that the main actors have realised that the former management had little or no intention to promote football with all the passion and fanfare that goes along with it. According to him, South West FECAFOOT needs people with passion for the game and not self-interest or politics. Apart from his passion for the game, Mr. Nouck Protus is equally counting on his rich experience in the game which he started loving as a child and has been in Football Management and Youth Football Development for over 25 years

Full Profile

Involvement in Football Management and Promotion

A seasoned sports Journalist, Mr. Nouck has been covering Cameroon football for almost a quarter century.

 He is a tried, tested and proven Football Manager who has been at the helm of Union Bolifamba (at the age of 23), Benyoh FC Mutengene, Tarzan Mutengene and most importantly Little foot FC which he founded and has been running for over 20years toady.

He is a pioneer in the promotion of Youth Football in Cameroon and the initiator and sponsor of the first ever Youth Inter-quarter Football Competition in Tiko Sub-division. He equally initiated the first ever Youth Talent Identification Camp in the South West Region in 1998, with the participation of National Coaches and was also the initiator and host of the first ever National Cadet Team Match in the South West Region in 1998, between Little Foot FC and the Cadet Lions in which his team, Little Foot FC rose up to the challenge and beat the Cadet Lions 1-0.

Through is youth oriented Football Club, Little Foot FC, Mr. Nouck remains the only Manager to have produced the highest number of practicing footballers and coaches in the South West Region. All of them were detected by him and given the chance to explore their talents in Little Foot FC.

Professional players from Little Foot FC

Enoh Eyong -              Former Vice Captain of the indomitable lions, and Standard Liege-Belgium

Makon Nloga-             Esperance de Tunis

Enow Paul –                FC Ruti Switzerland

Kwa Franklin –           USA

Ngody Jean Black-     UK

Mallick Ndape-           Thailand

Taboko Vincent-         Dibouti

Agbor Rolland-           Djibouti

Obe Serge –                University of Ngoundere Football Club

Dji Bareng Joseph –    National Polytechnic Bamenda

Bogue Joel -                National Polytechnic Bamenda

and a host of others

Coaches

Ayisi Dominic –          Njalla Quan Sports Academy  and Technical Director SW Region

Nlend Aime-               Njalla Quan Sports Academy

Ayisi Luca -                Njalla Quan Sports Academy

Epah Gyvira –             Acadia Shepherd Mutengene

Egba Emmanuel –       Ndian

Kengo Raymnond-     Mutengene

 and a host of others

Social Engineer

Mr. Nouck is equally a social engineer, and youth promoter. His involvement in youth initiatives earned him the title "King of Youths". He is equally the Executive Director of Partner Vision; a youth oriented development organization that seeks to give youth the chance to explore their full potentials. Through this organization he managed the project Youth Empowerment through Technology, Arts and Media (YETAM) which won an international award of the best youth program in London.

Social Marketer

He is two term North West Communication Officer and Board member of the World Bank Programme PAJER-U (Programme d’Appui a la Jeunesse Rural et Urbain)

A community Mobilizer

He is the chairman of the Board of Directors of Mutengene Vision Association, an association that seeks to develop the town of Mutengene a wipe out the negative image of the town. Through the association he initiated the Mutengene annual festival dubbed EYOLE Festival, which regroups all the different tribes of Mutengene in a cultural jamboree, football competition, cross country race with prize award ceremony.

What more can we expect from a president of FECAFOOT?

A million dollar question!!!!!!

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EYONG ENOH MOVES TO STANDARD LIEGE

elempia@yahoo.com

Eyong Enoh Moves to Standard Liege on a Two Year Deal

Former indomitable lions captain Eyong Enoh Takang has signed a two year deal with Belgian club side Standard Liege. The 28 year old moves as a free agent for a fee worth over 2 Million Euros. The indomitable lions’ midfielder will be playing the Europa league as his new club was knocked out of the group face of the Champions league.  

This latest transfer sets another bench mark in terms of successful Anglophone football professionals. It should be recalled that Eyong Enoh is the most successful of the numerous professional footballers produced by Little Foot FC Academy in Tiko. Only at the age of 10 his talent was detected by the founder of Little Foot Academy, ace sports journalist and youth football promoter Mr. Nouck Protus, who gave him the chance to play at an age where only adults were considered fit enough to play for the second division.

After some seasons with the Little Foot, the teenager moved to first division side Mt. Cameroon FC  Buea and then to Cyprus from which he moved to Ajax Cape Town in South Africa. It is in Cape Town that he began his professional career in 2006. After two seasons in the Soccer Premier League, in which he won the Cup in 2007 and the best player award in 2008, he moved to Ajax Amsterdam. He stayed for five seasons with the Dutch champions and played 124 matches winning 2 league titles (2011 and 2012) and one cup (2010). In 2013 he join the English Premier League side Fulham on loan after which he moved to Turkish side Antalyaspor. Since Saturday 30th August he has become the new number 21 of Standard Liege.

Eyong Enoh equally has 39 selections with the indomitable lions scoring two goals. With this rich professional career, Eyong Enoh stands as the most successful football player to have emanated from west of the Moungo.