Cameroon Athletes Disappear At Common Wealth Games, Australia 2018

The uneasy state of Cameroon sports institutions and limping care awarded to athletes has always been the cry of most sports actors. It is therefore not uncommon to get news of athletes disappearing whenever they get to participate in international competions. To some of them, it is an opportunity to “fall bush”. This may sound laughable but sure it is something to cry about. It is something to be taken serious. We must ask ourselves what isn’t really working. Also, we must ask these pertinent questions if we want to avoid these pitiable disgrace in the future.

Olivier Heracles Matam Matam of Cameroon, here competing on April 5

In this year’s Commonwealth games in Australia, it is reported that a third of Cameroon's athletes participating in the games have gone missing.  The team press authorities said in a statement early this week. Out of the of 24 members making up the Cameroonian delegation, five boxers and three weightlifters have disappeared over the space of three days. It is reported that these athletes left in waves, with three going missing on the night of April 8 and another two vanishing on April 9 before the remaining group left at night on April 10. Two of the eight left without even attempting to try their luck at competing.

Cameroon's Simplice Fotsala (left) on April 6 receiving a a good spanking

The delegation’s attache Simon Molombe confidently said he did not expect them to return. "I don't think they will be back…" Cameroon's Molombe told CNN Sport, confirming their disappearance had been reported to Australian police. I guess Mr. Molombe is well confident about his statement for he sure knows why such an attitude will even cross the minds of these athletes. The press release from the delegation revealed that among those confirmed to have wantonly “fallen bush” at the expense of the Cameroon Sports name are:

·  1) Weight lifter Arcangeline Fouodji Sonkbou

·  2) Boxer Arsene FokouBoxer Christelle Ndiang

·  3) Boxer Christian Ndzie Tchoyi

·  4) Weight lifter Olivier Hercales Matam Matam

·  5) Weight lifter Petit David Minkoumba

·  6) Boxer Simplice Fotsala

·  7) Boxer Ulrich Yombo

Simon Lyonga Molombe’s statement went further to intimate that: "Most of them departed in the night when everyone was sleeping. Nobody knows the direction they have gone,"  it is to be noted that, the athletes' visa requirements expire on May 15, 2018 allowing them to spend another month legally in Australia.

Simon Lyonga Molombe

David Grevemberg, Commonwealth Games Federation CEO, said the situation remained an issue for the Cameroon team until the athletes breached their visas. To this regard, Simon Lyonga Molombe regretted that: "It is obviously disappointing that some of the athletes who have come didn't compete when scheduled to compete…" He continued that: "I think it is also important to remember that these athletes are guests here in Australia and are still within their visas and have the right to travel freely."

It should be noted that during the London 2012 Olympics, seven Cameroonian athletes disappeared. This of course is not the only time Cameroon athletes have disappeared during international competitions. I guess Cameroon has written its name within this unfortunate sportsmen “bushfalling syndrome” which seems to be the dream of most of them. In fact, what do we even expect from them when they have no resources to carry out their sport, no or insufficient allowances which are not paid on time, no infrastructure and what have you. Tsssuuuuiiippppp!!!

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Portugal Bows to Holland 0-3 in FIFA Friendly

Yesterday 26^th March 2018 powerful friendly match between European football giants, Portugal and Holland was a crowd puller for all football fans around the world. Former Manchester United winger Memphis Depay and ex-Liverpool forward Ryan Babel put the Dutch 2-0 ahead at the 11^th and 32^nd minutes of the first half of the game. Liverpool’s giant defender Virgil van Dijk, recently named as the new Dutch captain, netted their third goal at the 45^th plus just after Joao Cancelo was dismissed for Portugal with a red card in the second half.This game brought to an end Real Madrid’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo's run of scoring in nine consecutive games. It is to be remembered that the Portugal captain was replaced during the game by Monaco's Joao Moutinho at the 68th minute. Also, Ronaldo has scored 17 goals for Real and two for Portugal.

Furthermore, we remember that Portugal is in Group B for the Russian World Cup this year alongside Spain, Morocco and Iran, but the Netherlands loosing against England by 1-0 under Ronald Koeman's first game in charge, failed to qualify for the Russian jamboree. Would the failure of Portugal to score even a goal during yesterday’s friendly game a sign of more unfortunate World Cup expeditions? Well we can only wait and see. We all wish them well come June 2018.

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Cameroun Beats Kuwait 3-1 in FIFA Friendly Encounter

In one of the encounters counting for the March 2018 FIFA friendlies, Cameroun’s Indomitable Lions trashed the Kuwaiti national football side 3-1. The Camerounian goals started coming in as early as the first sixteen minutes of the game. Two of the three goals came in within these first sixteen minutes with Aboubakar Vincent and Bassogog scoring.

The Camerounian side demonstrated their usual masterly play style that has for some time been missing from their games. With several substitutions especially at the goalpost, only Fabrice Ondoa conceded a goal in the second half of the game. The Cameroun team in today’s game at least revived the spirits of sports lovers in the country. This performance is a sure demonstration of the great job Alexandre Belinga is doing as head coach since the departure of the Belgian-Hugo Broos.

One cannot but wonder if this time around, a national will be given the opportunity to prove his mettle on the bench of the Indomitable Lions. Given that expatriates are often preferred by the Cameroun football governing body, one clearly wonders if this time around, Alexandre Belinga will at least be awarded the confidence to handle the team right up to and through the 2019 African Nations’ Cup to be hosted by the country.

Today’s victory comes at a time when most Camerounians have lost faith in the team given their failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in Russia late last year against the Super Eagles of Nigeria. At this time, the only wish of Camerounian nationals is their desire to rebuild hope around the team and the management that will take the Lions to the AFCON of 2019. Let’s all wait and see…

*Exclusive photo credits to Njomen Valery

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Barrel Examines The Plight Of Premier League Clubs At The Champions League

The Champions League is a prestigious competition organised annually for by the Union of European Football Associations    (UEFA). A we all already know, only top-division European clubs do participate in the tournament and its final game is the most watched annual sporting event worldwide. The 2017/2018 competition has been characterized by suprised eliminations with the likes of Lazio, Athletico Madrid, RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund not making past the group stages.

English football has been heavily represented by Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea, all qualifying for the second round of the competition. The joy of seeing these clubs perform at the top and final stages of the competition, has however been short-lived with the surprised elimination of Tottenham FC at home on the 7th of March 2018 by Juventus FC of Turin with a score of 1 goal to 2 and 3-4 (On aggregate). Manchester City suffered defeat but went through to the quarter finals on aggregate 5-2 against the Swiss club of FC Basel. Liverpool FC (In Anfield) played a goalless tie with FC Porto but went through on aggregate after a huge thumping of FC Porto 5-0.

Yesterday the 13th of March 2018 saw the surprised elimination of Manchester United at Home in Old Trafford against FC Sevilla by a score of 1-2 for the visitors. This Man U match was characterised by missed chances and woeful performance by the Manchester Boys who failed severally to convert all their goal scoring opportunities. Needless to argue that we all failed to see the determination to win from the home front. 

It will appear the magic boy Jose Morinho has been dwindling in his ablility to provided the much awaited brilliant results that the fans of Manchester United both desire. Of course their English and international fans are more thane ver before most disatisfied with the team’s performance. As a result, it is not uncommon to hear supporters argue on the need for the Portuguese magic trainer to be replaced-by who, no one can tell for now. As already intimated, Man U has not been at its best performance of late and yesterday’s match tells a lot of hot stories about the management bench of the club. We have seen that "THE SPECIAL ONE" or the « Magic Boy » Jose Mourinho has fallen below standards for the team. All we can hope is that he and the club can bounce back, not at the Champions League though, but at local competitions and challenges.

Yesterday’s match was a goalless tie in the first half but a technical change from FC Sevilla's Head Coach Vincenzo Montella, saw the introduction of Frenchman Wissam Ben Yedder at the 72nd minute in place of Luis Muriel. Consequently as a result from this change, two beautiful goals came in from the Frenchman at the 74th and 78th minutes. United's Romelu Lukaku had a quick reaction to reduce the tally at the 84th minute but it wasn't enough to see Mourinho's boys through to the quarter finals of the competiton.

The last games for the 16th Round will conclude today with F.C Barcelona welcoming CHELSEA FC after a one-all draw in Stamford Bridge in London. Besiktas receives Bayern Munich after receiving a 5-0 thumping in Germany. All our eyes will be in Barcelona, Spain tonight at 08:45 PM for another historic encounter. What will be the outcome? Will the curse of English football continue to see Chelsea off? Will Chelsea surprisingly snatch an away win against all odds? Your guess is as good as mine. All we can do is to wait, hope, and watch if the last Premier League side will make their fans proud tonight.

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Barrel