Less than a year after Dande Junior joined Union de Mouvement sportive of Loum, the 21 year old shot stopper has quickly integrated into the squad, and has been one of his team’s standout performers, in the playoffs. Amongst all the goalkeepers who took part in the playoffs, Dande has the best record of four clean sheets in five games, and only one goal conceded. Keeping another clean sheet on Sunday, against the best attacking team in Cameroon ( cotonsport), was telling of the quality of the former APEJES and Siewe Sport goalkeeper, who was never fazed by golden boot winner, Daouda Kamilou, or by Burkinabe wander boy, Arnaud Sanou Sibiri. Now the shot stopper thinks he has accomplished his mission with UMS.
Speaking after their title winning game, Dande said “we have accomplished our mission, which was to be champions and today we have proven to the whole Cameroon that UMS is the best. We just have to celebrate and thank God because it wasn’t easy with all the difficulties that we had”.
He however admitted that surviving the scare against Cotonsport was a difficult one. “It was a very difficult game, Cotonsport were the defending champions, so we had to prove that we are at cotonsport’s level” said the shot stopper.“He continued “today we have shown to the whole Cameroon that Cotonsport is not unbeatable”.
With the 2019 league one title now history, and UMS out of the Cameroon cup, Dande Junior is already looking forward to the upcoming continental competitions “it’s going to be a different ball game. If I will still be with UMS, then I will be glad to play the CAF champions league, if I’m not there, different people will play”. He added “Today I think I’ve left my trace with UMS by becoming champions, if tomorrow I’m about to defend this championship, I will be willful and God willing I will give the best of what I have”.
Cameroonian clubs have had dismal performances in continental football competitions, but Dande has a plea to make to those managing football in the country “we need enough support from the Federation, professional football league and from Cameroonians all together, because it’s not about UMS, it’s about the whole Cameroon, UMS representing Cameroon so everybody have to mobilize in order to push UMS to the furthest point in the competition”.
Dande Junior won the Cameroon cup in 2016, with APEJES of Mfou, and boasts much experience, through his time with Siewe FC of San-Pedro (Ivory Coast), played the CAF Confederation cup with New Stars of Douala and has been part of Cameroon’s junior selections.
AFESEH APONG
@afesehapong (Twitter)
