Cameroonian influx rejuvenate Lobi

Kingsley Ashu (middle - front row) before a league match during the 2012/13 season. 

Cameroonian influx rejuvenate Lobi

BY OJEIKERE AIKHOJE

 

Even before the new season begins, former champions, Lobi Stars, have set a record as the first Nigerian team to attract as much as five Cameroonians to its training camp. 

 

 

Rodrigue Kenmoe Mangoua: Confident of success with Lobi

 

Ghanaians were the target of Nigerian clubs before the introduction of Professional football in 1990 and the Premier League in 2003.

In recent times, the searchlight has moved from Ghana to Cameroon.

Njoh Njoh Alien was the first Cameroonian to defend the colours of obi Stars, back in 2000.

Fondly called, Njoh Njoh, the Cameroonian played in the 2000 Caf Champions League.

The arrival of the quartet of Yannick Djouaka, Carlos Manuel Gui Abba, Besseleck Theophate and Rodrigue Kenmoe Mangoua means French is now the second language at the Makurdi side.

Add left full back, Kingsley Ashu, then you have a French quintet.

However, club supremo, Dominic Iorfa and gaffer, Evans Ogenyi, won’t need to employ translators since Ashu has extended his deal at the club.

Ashu’s presence will ensure Djouaka, Manuel Gui Abba, Theophate and Mangoua are able to concentrate on the task ahead in Nigeria.

Call them a “band of brothers” and you won’t be wrong.

As professionals, adapting to the Nigerian system won’t be a problem considering their readiness to play for Lobi Stars.

Premier League rivals like Kano Pillars, Enyimba, Bayelsa United and Warri Wolves might be struggling for the outstanding stars of the 2012/13 season, but Lobi have simply decided to move across the border to shop for fresh men.

Indeed, gone are the days of breaking league records for players like Taye Taiwo, whose was the league’s most expensive player when he joined Lobi from Gabros, in 2004.

There’s also the financial angle to the influx as confirmed by ojeksaikhoje.blogspot.com since only CotonSport appears to have the power to attract the best players.

“I’m comfortable at Lobi Stars,” Ashu, who had a stint in Cyprus before his Nigerian adventure started with Wikki Tourists, revealed to ojeksaikhoje.blogspot.com.

 

Ambition

Forget about the weather. It’s the same.

Ashu expressed confidence that skills, ability and vision of the quartet brings quality to Lobi’s set-up.  

“Our collective objective is to ensure Lobi makes comes out better and make it to the continent.

“The advantage is nobody knows them now. They would have punished several teams before our rivals will know what we have,” Ashu said to ojeksaikhoje.blogspot.com.   

Interestingly, the new recruits are excited about their assignment in Nigeria.

“I know about Enyimba in the Caf Champions League. I’m ready for the fresh experience because I know the Nigerian League is one of the best in Africa,” Mangoua told ojeksaikhoje.blogspot.com.

The Other Cameroonian Contingent

 Sunshine Stars’ Tamen Medrano was a success in the 2011/12 season.

Medrano returned after a botched transfer to Egypt’s Petrojet but struggled in the league.

Isaac Hele, who started his Nigerian romance with Kano Pillars moved to Sunshine to increase the contingent.

El-Kanemi brought in Cameroonian striker, Raphael Boumsong, last term from Chadian side, Gazelle and he was a success.

Boumsong arrived in Week 9 and scored nine goals to finish as the club’s top scorer.