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02.02.2008
Song Relishes Cameroon "Father" Role
Rigobert Song is not only Cameroon’s experienced centre back, but the 31-year-old defender is the Indomitable Lions’ inspirational leader on and off the field.
He is participating at his record-equaling seventh MTN Africa Cup of Nations finals. Including the Sudan match, he has played 30 matches at the Africa Cup of Nations, which is a record.
Song was a member of the teams that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2000 and 2002.
In this exclusive interview with MTNfootball.com, the Cameroon captain speaks about his deceased father, his nephew Alexandre Song,
the MTN Africa Cup of Nations, Nelson Mandela and the 2010 World Cup.
Rigobert, this is your record equaling seventh MTN Africa Cup of Nations – which was the best so far?
That was in 2000 and 2002, because Cameroon won.
What about this year’s Indomitable Lions squad?
We’ve a team that can play great football and which has a nice mixture of older players, like Samuel Eto’o, Geremi and myself, and young talents, like my cousin Alexandre Song.
How, as Cameroon’s captain, do you guide the younger players in the squad?
I try to be like a father to them. When young myself, I learnt quickly from senior players at the time like Roger Milla. They told me how to succeed in soccer.
What is the advice you’re giving?
Accept working hard, as the success later in your career is the result of your work earlier in your career. Also, it’s very important to be able to listen to the right people. When you’re young and doing well, everybody is saying: “You’re great!” But you’re not great yet, you still have to improve and that’s when you’ve to learn listening to the right people and the right advice.
Are you succeeding?
The young players are in a different situation than I was still a young talent. A lot is changing. Nowadays, youngsters talk a lot about money. I try to have control and guide them, advising: “A big player can have money, but be quiet.”
Do you tell youngsters not to drink or smoke?
(Laughs) Players must learn to behave professionally. In soccer, everything is half-time; you can go out and drink, but don’t overdo it. I like to drink champagne occasionally at a dinner. However, I have to be clever. I can’t drink like some musicians do and still think that I can perform at my best.
What can you tell us about your nephew Alexandre Song and how are you related to each other?
Our fathers are brothers. Alex is my friend, even though we don’t room together at present. I always want to talk about Alex, as I’m so proud about him. He doesn’t play regularly at Arsenal and that’s why I’m so happy about his form for the Cameroonian team in Ghana. Alex has been showing a lot of quality.
Your father, Paul Song, died when you were 10-year-old. You often mention him as an inspirational force...
That’s correct. However, today, I’m also feeling sad, because I want to show him what his son Song has achieved. I always think about my father and I want to see him. My mother often tells me how he brought me to the stadium when still a kid; from about the age of seven.
This is your record-equaling seventh tournament and against Sudan you played in your 30th match, which is another record. Do you care about these kinds of statistics?
I only know because people have been telling me about these records. In the beginning of my career, I never thought that I would equalise or break records like these. It’s God’s gift; to stay healthy and never having suffered from serious injury.
How long do you still intend to continue?
Until the 2010 World Cup in South Africa; the first Wold Cup to be held on African soil. Cameroon has to be there. After that I can retire.
Are you serious?
(Starts laughing) I enjoy what I do. Soccer is my life. I breathe football, I eat football... I’m now 31. If I see how Paolo Maldini still continuous playing at the age of 39, I still have a long way to go.
Will we see you as a coach one day?
Everything is possible. Football is difficult, because you never know what will happen next.
Who are your friends in the Cameroon squad?
It’s difficult to have friends in football. My role is to be the big father to all the players in the squad. Besides, I don’t like to play cards and I’m always in my room. My closest friend is my wife Esther, who’s presently in Cameroon to run some of our businesses.
You’ve a son, Ronny, and two daughters, called Hillary and Yohanna. Is Hillary named after America’s presidential candidate Hillary Clinton?
(Shows his tattoo with his daughters’ names) Why not, being named after Hillary Clinton is good. She’s a very strong woman.
You met South Africa’s former president Nelson Mandela. How was that?
That was big for me. That was so big for me, even though we didn’t talk much. Mandela is a living monument!
Who has been Cameroon’s best player?
Roger Milla. To be able to still play at the age of 42, as he did, is fantastic.
Will Cameroon reach the final at the 2008 MTN Africa Cup of Nations?
This is one tournament which is very difficult, because so many teams have a chance to win. We will still have a lot of surprises to come in this tournament. However, Cameroon won’t be one of them, as we don’t want to go out early. We will do everything to reach the final.
http://www.mtnfootball.com/live/content.php?Item_ID=13233
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