The lions of Cameroon
on Mischa in Cameroon (Cameroon), 31/Mar/2010 21:10, 34 days ago
These are the kids who play football most evenings outside the gate of my compound, at least until their ball gets too deflated, or they have to stop to drag their babies brothers and sisters off the pitch. "We are the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon" (the national team) they announce to me, when I come in and out.Football is very serious here. I stopped by on my way back from the market to have a look at what seemed to be an informal game being played on the bit of dusty scrubland behind my house. It turned out to the be the final of the local youth championship and within a few moments of appearing I was summoned over to take the "seat of honour" (the one chair, which the President of the football club vacated for me) and was informed that I would be handing out the trophies (which the Captains of the best teams hid under their t-shirts as soon as they got them, to stop them being stolen by rival players.)