The Hindu : Sport : Milla’s presence makes Cameroon formidable

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Wednesday, Oct 10, 2007
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Sport

Milla’s presence makes Cameroon formidable

V.V. Subrahmanyam

‘Soccer is like opium. It is in the adrenalin of every Cameroonian’

— Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

CONFIDENCE PERSONIFIED: Roger Milla is certain that Cameroon will put up a brilliant performance. .

HYDERABAD: Cameroon’s intention to surprise defending champion Egypt in the fourth Military World Games football championship commencing here on Wednesday can be easily guessed by the presence in its line up of the 1990 World Cup’s star performer Roger Milla, who is here as an advisor.

“This is a championship which can be won by anyone. Given the nature of the event (being confined only to military personnel), I have been asked to assist my football team,” Milla told The Hindu after a strenuous practice session here on Tuesday.

Reflecting on the 1990 World Cup which was made more memorable by Roger Milla’s famous celebratory jig in the at the corner flag, the then superstar of Cameroon football said that it took a lot of effort for them to achieve that success.

“Our ultimate goal even now is to put African football on top of the world. For that we are willing to go to any extent,” said the passionate star of yesteryear. Milla also revealed that the magical skill of African footballers is an innate ability and not necessarily the end product of any long training programme. “Soccer is like opium. It flows in the adrenalin of every citizen back home,” he pointed out. Commenting on a slump of sorts in African football of late, Milla said that it was not always possible to play well all the time.

“I am glad that Cameroon qualified for the African Cup nation’s championship. I hope for a better future for my country,” he said.

The genial footballer is delighted at the stardom of his countryman Samuel Eto whom he rates, along with Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast) and Michael Essien of Ghana, as the three best footballers of the contemporary era.

“I hope Eto comes back strongly after recovering from his injury,” he observed. Milla said that his long-standing friendship with players like Pele and John Cryuff has been a big motivating force in giving a new face to African football.

“They are legends and we in Africa keep picking up new points about the sport from them,” he said.

And Roger Milla says he is surprised that India has not made it big in world football.

“I had been to Kolkata sometime back and spent three weeks there. They are really passionate about the sport. There is tremendous interest. I believe that sincere efforts should be made to rope in youngsters into sport by several development programmes. If given the encouragement and exposure, there is the talent here to move up the international ranks,” he said.That Roger Milla off the field would be a star attraction in the Military World Games is quite obvious.

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