First it was Roger Miller, the Cameroonian great who with something short of a cameo appearance, and with age laden legs set the 1990 Italy world cup with his infamous corner flag celebration. So symbolic was his dance that coca cola based one of it's promotions during the first world cup hosted in Africa -the 19th edition in South Africa- on Roger Miller's corner flag jig.
So mercurial was his Roger Miller's performance at this world cup with four goals as at the ripe age of 38, Roger Miller showed the world that Africa could compete at football's largest stage by leading Cameroon to the quarter finals. The first time for an African nation at the last entertaining World cup if the sentiments of Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson are to be believed.
Samuel Eto'o
Then it was Samuel Eo'o. The young Cameroonian striker who after failing to make the cut at galatico obsessed Real Madrid, shone at Real Mallorca before lighting the stage at Barcelona. Now at Inter Milan, Samuel Eto'o is to me the face of FIFA's anti-racism campaign. In the short history of African imports to European leagues, none has suffered more ridicule as the former African footballer of the year and African cup all time top goal scorer.
So bad is the Eto'o situation that sometimes supporters of clubs he has turned out for have sadly been part of the derogatory monkey calls brigade. In all this negativity, he has three champions league titles to his name, several domestic cups in Spain and Italy; including unprecedented back- to- back treble wins with two different clubs in two different countries- Inter Milan and Barcelona.
Enter the third Cameroonian
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| Alex Song of Arsenal during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium on December 27, 2009 in London, England.
(December 26, 2009 - Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images Europe)
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Alexandre Billong song is his name. If you are a follower of African football, you would have noticed the 'Song' name and if your memory is like that of a ndovu n-doe-vu [Swahili: elephant] ; the name should revive memories of the Cameroonian center back epitome Rigobert Song. When Alex started out his career at Arsenal as a loanee, the much that could be said of him was his relation to the Cameroon great.
Learning The steps
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| image via baobabexpeditions.wordpress.com |
Like a young wildebeast born in the the wild of the Masai Mara, his first steps were unsteady almost jerky. The environment into which he was born into, just like in the annual triangle migration of the wildebests from the Serengeti game park in Tanzania across the crocodile infested Mara river into the Maasai Mara game reserve in Kenya, was hostile.
In the grass, lay a host of carnivores seeking to exploit the calf's naivety and physical immaturity to make a meal of it.
At Craven Cottage, the fans did make a meal out of him. With the team still getting over the hangover of the mighty invincible, it is one of those nights that Arsenal fans would rather not remember.
A young calf's survival in the woody to grassland to swamp marshy Serengeti- Mara ecosystem, is dependent on the mother just like it is the case for the young of all mammals.
At Arsenal, Arsene Wenger is the mother. He admitted to it himself that he chooses at times to lie to the press so that to protect his players. Jack Wilshere on signing a new long term deal today, spoke of how the technical staff led by Arsene Wenger have been central in his development as a player.
Arsene, being the exemplary 'mother' that he is, sent Song on loan to Charlton Athletic in January 2006. Some fans rejoiced at the news as it meant that he won't be around to disgrace their beloved Arsenal.
To other fans, the loan move signaled the first steps of this center back out of Arsenal . Most fans however, didn't care [kind of the way Traore has been shipped off to Juvents or Mark Randall to the Championship].
It was a short stay at Charlton as they soon drooped from the top flight. Back at Arsenal, Song had his usual bits in the Carling cup and a spattering of Champions league games. Every time he took the pitch, notoriously pessimistic Arsenal fans would cringe at the memories at Craven Cottage.
His every pass judged, his movement, tackling, positioning....all attributes of a player, were assessed. Soon, the naysayers begun to realize their negativity was being discounted by the new Arsenal star.
With Flamini departed and Gilberto let go, there was a vacancy for the defensive midfielder role. The battle was between one time fan favorite Denilson and the player who Wenger kept saying was a center back first then may be a defensive midfielder. Curiously so, it was the Cameroonian who kept getting the starts over the Brazilian.
In typical defensive style, Song did well to steady the ship by breaking up opposition attacks, winning the ball back and launching the attack by feeding Fabregas. It was not a stellar performance, but it was one that the fans and the club could live with. The season was 2009-2010.
Indispensable Song : And all Shall Sing
With very 90mins, Song engraved his name as the number one candidate for the deep man just ahead of the defense. Probably more due to injury troubles rather than the stubborn, in some light arrogant Arsene Wenger fashion, Song had a few stints and center back during the season.
When asked what Song's position was, the French man was diplomatic about it -hailing his performances in midfield but quick to remind those who cared that Song was naturally a center back and refusing to rule out if he would one day revert to the said position.
By now, the fans didn't care that much. Playing alongside Fabregas had rubbed off as the Cameroonian attempted through balls to pick out team mates, a dribble here and there, the occasional foray up the field and even the rare moments of the game when he controlled the pace of the team with every ball passing through him.
All said and done, he had transformed from the 17yr old who everyone was happy to see go through the door for a loan spell to lowly Charlton into the young energetic somewhat physical player that all Arsenal fans cold not bear start a match without his name in their team sheets.
Come 2010/2011 season, complete with the star look of bleached blond hair, more adventurous on the ball, a good engine to fuel his box-to-box play, three league goals to his name -all decisive goals- the fans are at again.
This time though, the debate is on whether he should remain deep as the traditional defensive midfielder role, best epitomized by the Makelele of Real Madrid and Chelsea or should he emulate Arsenal legend Viera?
Though in my observations inform me that this is the wrong debate, it is just to let the man have his day.
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