Cameroon coach, Hugo Broos defended his squad selection but was also keen to offer cautionary advice to Clinton Njie to state that “even Ronaldo or Messi are always working hard…”.
Broos who won the 2017 Gabon AFCON title where no one saw hope for Cameroon even progressing past the group stages, is making his intentions quite clear; a mission backed by the unwillingness to compromise regardless of a player’s status quo.
Njie now another of Cameroon’s potential stars was dropped citing discipline as the costly agent which came as somewhat of a surprise.
But all factors considered the talented star is not looking up to his expectations even at club level.
Of the player’s exclusion, Broos explained, [perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”Njie Clinton is not here because of poor discipline. He is a good player with many qualities as we saw during the preparation games before the Africa Cup of Nations against the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe.[/perfectpullquote]
“But ten days later during the first (AFCON) game against Guinea Bissau, he was (playing) at only 50 percent.”
He also advised that Njie needs a change in attitude “if he is to turn the qualities he possesses into success at the top level.”
“Even Ronaldo and Messi are always working hard; him thinking that he’s the best doesn’t work, it doesn’t work in Marseille either.
“He is more on the bench than on the field of play. He is a player with the qualities to play in Marseille; it’s his responsibility that he is not playing.
“I said this already to him in Gabon. I hope he will understand because he is a good player.”
The win in Gabon was not short of criticism at players who snubbed all call-ups to the national team. Liverpool defender, Joel Matip, was the most talked about, his exclusion from the squad, mostly because Broos got weary of persistently trying to convince him to play for Cameroon.
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Omitting another talent like Njie only goes to show that Broos is looking for more than a football player; he needs character, commitment, and hard work. The bright side is that Njie has the chance to rise from the dip in performance and express his true abilities.
In a press conference in Yaounde, Broos said, ” I have spoken to Clinton like my son, to work hard…
“I gave him the chance to prove his worth during the last AFCON in the first two matches but he did not grab the opportunity to make a difference
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Even in his club Marseille, he is constantly on the bench meanwhile if he works harder, he will perform greatly and I am ready to call him by September in case he improves.”[/perfectpullquote]
At club level, Njie’s chances of making any relevant team appearance at club level are getting slimmer by the time. He is on loan at Marseille from Tottenham Hotspurs where he moved for £12m from Olympique Lyonnaise but has since struggled to find a steady pace in form.
Marseille coach Rudi Garcia said, “Tottenham has an option to recover Clinton and this date has not yet arrived.
“One can logically think that he will be an Olympian. We’ll count on him.
“It’s up to him to improve things.”
Meanwhile, the Indomitable Lions are in camp preparing for the game against Morocco on June 10, before the team travels to Russia for the FIFA Confederations Cup campaign, from June 17 to July 2.
Featured photo: Getty Images
