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Cameroon Camp Focus - Leading from the front
Paul Le Guen has pulled no rabbits from the hat as he announced the 30 man preliminary squad to travel the World Cup . In the midst of the squads chopping and changing so close to the world’s most prized football competition, the expatriate coach has striven to keep a healthy balance in the squad, as the trimming of the squad continues to 23 by June 1, the current crop currently boasts the likes of veterans Rigobert Song, Geremi and Idriss Carlos Kameni.
Despite stripping Rigobert Song of the captain’s armband, Le Guen’s relationship with the former Liverpool man has not diminished, Song has reacted somewhat positively to the change, not allowing his concentration to deter, on the contrary, working harder to win his place back in the senior squad after disappointing form of late. The imposing veteran was one of a number of players along with Geremi to be criticised for his below par performances at the last African Nations but remains a natural leader and the coach will look to Song to marshal the back line while his nephew Alexandre performs similar duties further ahead in the middle of the park. The Arsenal midfielder’s addition into the World Cup squad has not come as a surprise to the masses, while Song’s performances on club level have until recently, been wayward, Song’s efforts for his country have been immense and Le Guen will no doubt look to partner him with the on form box-to-box dynamo Jean Makoun.
Among the unsurprising selections by Le Guen, there were three new faces which all ply their trade in their homeland, these international novices will be eyed in detail, Le Guen has opted for the Dunga-like strategy of bleeding in clandestine home gown talents such as John Patrick Abouna Ndzanza from Stars of FC Yaoundé and Canon Sportif’s Patrick Mevoungou. Vincent Aboubakar from Coton Sport FC de Garoua has been hailed as ‘the new Samuel Eto’o’, once offered a trial by Tottenham, making an impact in South Africa could engineer a high profile to Europe.
One of the more astute call-ups to the squad has been the inclusion of Tottenham’s Sebastien Bassong, the young defender’s club hopping has now seemed to end as he has carved his niche in North London and formed a strong defensive partnership with Michael Dawson, Bassong’s outings for Tottenham have provided him with a call up in the World Cup qualifiers against Morocco and now looks to be one of the many players slowly edging out Rigobert Song for the ever competitive centre-back slot.
The Indomitable Lions will no doubt be looking to Eto’o to lead by example, while many may question the decision to give the striker the armband, Eto’o is certainly Cameroon’s talisman, the player with a host of awards to his name can clearly turn games around and will look forward to replicate his club form on the international stage. Eto’o is a tremendous footballer, Eto’o with the captain’s armband can be a frightening footballer, Le Guen’s decision to make a striker captain can either backfire or pay dividends. Eto’o can lead from the front with influence or could feel too much pressure added to his forward duties and buckle. The prolific front man has started his skipper tenure well by contributing nine goals in qualification rounds to the World Cup, notably against Morocco to secure a spot in South Africa and there is little doubt that he will net more and go down in the history of Cameroon’s World Cup campaigns as one of the all time great forwards along with Roger Milla.
A clearer insight into the mind and decisions of Paul Le Guen will be provided on June 1, until then Cameroonian’s will hope Samuel Eto’o will captain their nation as a European champion after reaching the Champions League final with Jose Mourinho’s stoic Inter Milan. Le Guen has yet to prove his managerial aptitude on the international stage, with Cameroon having such a positive historical record as a African Nation, the Lions will look to promote their standing from African heavyweights to true world frontrunners. Le Guen has used the Cameroonian Petri dish to find the perfect mix in the squad for just under a year and waits tentatively to determine the results before June 1.
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