Rigobert Song, king of the pitch
Rigobert Song, was appointed head coach of Cameroon just a little over a fortnight to a crucial World Cup playoff against Algeria.
He came under massive pressure after losing the first leg, but steered the team to a historic comeback win, becoming the first team to defeat Algeria in Blida since 2002. You got me! Before facing Cameroon, Algeria had gone 43 games unbeaten in the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida, dating back to 2002. Rigobert Song’s team got a win there to qualify Cameroon for a historic 8th World Cup.
He then came into the World Cup as one of the 3 lowest paid coaches in the competition. He was written off even before kickoff and treated with all sorts of names even by some of his own supporters.
In his characteristic calm of a man who has played and achieved at the highest level, he remained poised and delivered Cameroon’s 2nd best ever World Cup display with 4 points and 4 goals scored. Never before had Cameroon scored 4 in the group stage of the World Cup, never before had an African side beaten Brazil at the World Cup.
Mind you, he did all these with a team far less talented than his predecessors ever had.
Rigobert Song deserves more respect and appreciation than he’s getting.
Ade Divine
