'Le Guen is clearly confused'

Written by The Standard Tribune

Monday, 31 May 2010 14:41

INTERVIEW: Sport analyst Franklin S. Bayen of This is Sport on Cameroon's pre-World Cup preps

Cameroon nil, Georgia nil. Is that a score that you would have expected?

Expected but not my wish. You’d expect that from a team that has been improvising all the way. A victory would have given the head coach credit he does not deserve. Georgia, a former Soviet Republic, is only a fraction of what used to be a medium range powerhouse in football. In any case, had the Lions done well in that game, the coach would have been praised for work he didn’t do. That match was played five days into the training camp. Most of the five days were given to physical training, little or no technical work, let alone any thing tactical. You don’t expect to win after no work done.

Does that performance indicate anything about how the Lions may perform in South Africa?

Ask Bell [Joseph Antoine] about our doubtful camping in Yugoslavia ahead of the World Cup ’90. You know it doesn’t always go like that. A team could spring surprises at the tourney even after dismal preps. Cameroon will not be doomed even after this sluggish start, but poor preparation is a sure way of not preparing to win and that’s what Austria looks to me so far.

What do you think will change during the remaining warm-up games?

We may perform better in the remaining warm-up games at least because the coach would have made a better appraisal of the first game against Georgia. Also, the team would have entered the technical and tactical phase of preparations. And the coach would have begun settling on his 23, which should be out by the 31st May, two days after the second warm-up against Slovakia and the day before the third against Portugal. But if nothing changes, it wouldn’t be surprising as nothing much has changed from March when we played a warm-up against Italy. In two all-to-prove matches since a dismal Cup of Nations, the Lions have not scored a goal. Above all, take note, our next warn-ups could be tougher because Slovakia, Portugal, Serbia are World Cup teams. They are hell bent on winning. Georgia wasn’t.

When should we expect to begin seeing the team that will make it to South Africa?

From the friendly against Portugal. The list of 23 is out May 31 and then we play against Portugal on June 1. However, it is probable the Slovakia match may be that face-saving match to redeem head coach Le Guen and May 29 is close enough to 31st for him to field a near World Cup team.

The team is extremely young. How is this going to play out?

Cameroon will not have the youngest team at the World Cup, though other young and younger teams may be more experienced. They are not being shaped at the verge of the World Cup. We are. That’s where the problem lies. Meanwhile, the coach had nearly a full year from last July when he was first signed up, to begin scouting for younger talents if he wanted to overhaul. From my experience with our first most far-reaching overhaul in 1985 under Claude Le Roy, I always take them with a pinch of salt. They always turn out to be a storm in the teacup as panicky coaches always fall back on the discarded old-guard like at the 1986 Cup of Nations when only about three of the “young turks” were regulars. But if Le Guen goes all the way with an overhauled squad at the verge of a major tournament like the World Cup, we are surely negotiating for a massive failure that would only serve as a wake up call to build a strong team thereafter. We saw that after the 1998 World Cup and the great team we had in 2000 under Rigobert Song. But we don’t want to waste another World Cup based on hopes for a future we don’t yet know. Reason I salute the recall of veterans Song and Njitap.

What do you think is Le Guen’s game plan?

I’m not sure I understand what he’s up to. He looks confused.

He’s been accused of showing signs of panic. Do Cameroonians have any reason to panic?

If our fate all depended on Le Guen, there is reason to panic. He is showing no mastery of the situation. He seems to be improvising as criticisms arise. He no longer inspires any confidence in fans. But players could take matters into their hands. They can play for the nation even if not tactically groomed for the show. Indomitable Lions are Cameroonians. They know what the nation wants, coach or none.

Who is the top player that can make a difference if he makes it to South Africa ?
If you mean the discoveries, we’re not thinking about Samuel Eto’o. May be also not Alex Song. He may become one of our big stars. He’s done so well as Arsenal’s dependable holding midfielder in the Premier League and the Champions League and is already announced. Nicolas Nkoulou, steady central defender is also already announced. Georges Constant Mandjeck and Eyong Enow are also signalling to emerge. Eyong is so multitalented, he can fit in at several positions from the defence through various midfield roles to even the attack. Achille Emana’s full-blown shine is overdue. He may make his breakthrough. He has all it takes as a ball juggler; he has great physique and could kick well at goal. Also watch Joel Matip. He plays a clean game. He doesn’t keep the ball too long, he makes accurate passes and has a good height for a holding midfielder. I’m going here by Le Roy’s logic in using Patrick Mboma, a natural striker, as holding midfielder in the first two group games in World Cup ’98. Matip suits that with his height and could shine in South Africa. Also watch the young Abouna Ndzana. Among the new recruits and especially the amateurs, he has shown little signs of complex from the friendly against Italy .