Cameroon: Patrick Mboma

Patrick Mboma refers to Roger Milla as ‘‘a legend,’’ which is why he refuses to be compared to a man who put Cameroon on the world football map.

Milla’s status in World Cup folklore was born when he scored four goals during Italia 90 en route to Cameroon reaching the quarter-finals, and at the ripe old age of 38.

What ensured he has never since been forgotten were his celebrations which followed each goal seconds later as he danced with a corner flag, his hips swinging and his boots a blur of movement.

Milla was not only the tonic Cameroon needed, but for African football as a whole for that was the moment when it emerged from the shadows cast by the dominant nations in Europe and South America.

That is why Mboma - currently on loan at Sunderland - knows it is fanciful to hold him up in the same light as Milla as he said: ‘‘It is impossible to compare me with him.

‘‘When I was invited to the national team, I deliberately shunned the number nine jersey to avert the pressure that goes with it.

‘‘But there is a wide difference between the legend and me. I am bigger, taller, faster, while he was more intelligent, cunning, and stronger.

‘‘He never got injured and even today is probably fitter than most players. Milla probably underachieved at club level due to no fault of his own.

‘‘But he won everything at national level and his contribution to Cameroon and African football is more than anybody could probably dream of matching. So please don’t compare me with Milla.’’

In many respects, the 31-year-old Mboma ﷓ like Milla ﷓ has been a late developer. It wasn’t until five years ago he finally made an impact in the game.

By that stage, after starting at the little-known Stade de l’Est in Paris ﷓ after emigrating to France when he was two ﷓ Mboma then joined their more famous neighbours in Paris St Germain, only to spend the majority of his time on loan at Chateauroux and Metz.

The reason being was that a future World Footballer of the Year and fellow African in George Weah was already a big star at PSG, ensuring Mboma was largely overlooked.

When Mboma learned of J League side Gamba Osaka’s interest, and despite his wife pregnant with their third of his four children at the time, he gambled with his career by quitting Paris and moving to Japan.

It was a gamble which paid off. Mboma finished that season as top scorer with 25 goals in 28 matches, scoring the fastest goal en route at 26 seconds and the league’s first hat-trick, unsurprisingly sparking a return to Europe and Serie A side Cagliari.

By then Mboma, a graduate mathematician, was becoming a regular for Cameroon having chosen to play for the country of his birth despite being eligible to play for France as he held a French passport.

In 40 matches for Cagliari he scored a further 15 goals, but was unable to prevent them from sliding into Serie B in 2000, although he remained in Italy’s top flight as Parma swooped for his services.

Mboma then emulated a feat previously achieved by Milla as he was overwhelmingly voted African Player of the Year for 2000, in particular for his achievements in helping ‘The Indomitable Lions’ to an African Nations Cup and Olympics double.

Despite those successes, and the emergence of the likes of Nigeria and South Africa - alongside Cameroon - over the last decade, Mboma believes much work is still needed if an African nation is to win the World Cup.

‘‘We lack organisation in Africa,’’ added Mboma. ‘‘At youth level, the competitions are easier with less pressure, minimal interests and less tactical discipline. But the World Cup is entirely a different matter.

‘‘Skills and technique are not enough. You must be adequately organised, plan meticulously and leave nothing to chance. But in Africa, there are a myriad of problems.

‘‘Gathering players in training camps, organising friendly games, getting the kits, booking hotels in advance, making adequate travelling arrangements, feeding the players properly, the whole gamut of a well-organised team is always missing.

‘‘South Americans, like Africans, have their best players spread all over the world, but they manage to organise themselves so effectively and that explains why they are always better than us at the World Cup.

‘‘There is an abundance of talent in Africa. If only it can be properly managed, the continent will be unrivalled in the world.’’