- Aurélien Chedjou believes Joel Matip faced significant cultural and operational challenges during his tenure with the Cameroon national team
- He argues that the Liverpool defender’s departure in 2015 was influenced by these challenges, despite his potential to greatly contribute to the team
- Matip’s national team career spanned from 2010 to 2015, during which he earned 27 caps and scored once
Aurélien Chedjou recently shed light on the difficulties Joel Matip encountered while integrating into the Cameroon national team, emphasizing the stark contrast between European and Cameroonian football environments.
While speaking on a program fou fou foot broadcast on CRTV sports, the former international highlighted Language barriers and differing operational standards, such as unreliable flights and subpar accommodations, were among the unexpected challenges that Matip had to navigate.
In his words “There was the language barrier. He was trying to fit in. Coming to Cameroon, he thought things would work like in Europe. There are things that happen in Cameroon that don’t happen in Europe. I’m talking for example about missed flights, hotels that are not like Europe.”
Despite these hurdles, Chedjou holds Matip in high regard, acknowledging his exceptional skills and the value he could have added to the team.
“He is a great player that I respect a lot. He can bring a lot to Cameroon. If he hadn’t had a problem in Cameroon, he would have played,” he added.
Matip’s journey with the national team began in 2010, following his decision to represent Cameroon internationally. Over the course of five years, he made 27 appearances and contributed one goal, participating in significant tournaments like the FIFA World Cups of 2010 and 2014.
However, his international career was cut short in 2015 due to the aforementioned issues, marking the end of his contributions to the Indomitable Lions.
Several coaches have approached the defender to make a u-turn from his decision but his has. always been firm, in 2017 he told the times I only wanted to stay here at Liverpool and play,”
Chedjou’s insights highlight the importance of cultural adaptability and understanding in sports, especially for athletes transitioning between different footballing cultures.
Matip’s experiences serve as a case study for the challenges faced by international players and the need for supportive structures to facilitate their integration.
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