#carried #thought #Relief
He was one of the greatest promises of African football. “He was a strong, big forward, he had a shot and a very powerful physique for his age,” one of his coaches at La Masia explains to Relevo. He arrived in Barcelona at the age of 13 and under the umbrella of the Samuel Eto’o Foundation., who at that time played in the culé first team. That was a batch of footballers with very high potential who dazzled during that era. Jean Marie Dongou stood out above all of them.
“He arrived late to La Masia,” they explain from the culé grassroots football team. He landed in the youth ranks and went through all the categories until he reached the reserve team and rose to the first team, complying with the established deadlines. “It was a very beautiful time. It was brutal”, Jean Marie Dongou tells Relevo. Unusual is the stellar appearance of Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí, who without going through the ‘B’ team reached the first team directly. “They are different times and what happened with Messi, for example, is not normal. ANow the young people are more prepared and in Barça’s youth football they train and prepare them to reach the first team.”Add.
The former soccer player is amazed by the appearances of Yamal and Cubarsí. “Lamine’s talent is enormous. The next season has to be the one of confirmation and has to take a step forward, although the one that impressed me the most was Cubarsí. “It’s not easy to be so young and perform so well in a position as delicate as center back at Barça,” Dongou is amazed.
“Busquets was a scandal and Xavi didn’t lose balls”
The player born in Douala He debuted with the first team in the 2013/2014 season.. That summer he scored three goals in preseason against Vålerenga of Norway and Santos in the Joan Gamper Trophy. Dongou’s time in the first team was temporary and testimonial. On December 6, he came on for Alexis Sánchez in the 78th minute of the Cup match against Cartagena. Barça won 1-4 and The striker scored his first official goal for the Blaugrana. “When you get to the first team the jump is not so brutal because you are really prepared. At La Masia they prepare you for this,” says the Cameroonian. “What surprised me the most was the pace of the training. In positional play, Busquets was a scandal and then I remember a lot about Xavi, who did not lose balls and there was no way I was in a rondo,” he recalls, smiling.
A few days later made his debut in the Champions League against Celtic on a day you will never forget. He came on in place of Neymar in the final stretch of the match. In January 2014 he grew up in the First Division against Levante, but his emergence in Can Barça stayed there. “When I debuted I saw it very easy. I got stuck and got carried away because I thought I had it all done.. The difficult thing was to maintain. Making your debut is easier than establishing yourself and it was difficult for me to understand,” she admits.
His new life as a commentator and his passion for cannelloni
After several unsuccessful experiences, Dongou decided to hang up his boots in Osaka in Japan. He arrived in April 2023. He played only four games before terminating his contract in August and thus putting an end to his sporting career. “It’s difficult when you’ve played soccer your whole life.. He came from a process of injuries and a lot of instability in several teams. Physically I was not well and I wanted to be with family and friends, but I want to stay linked to football because it’s my life,” explains Jean Marie.
He currently enjoys being a commentator and analyst for Barça in Giants. After disappearing from the football radar, at the playing level, the Cameroonian has found his new place outside the playing fields like many of his colleagues. “I love it and I have a great time because I really like watching football every day. She analyzed him since he was little. I have healthy envy of the television commentators because they blow my mind,” he says.
One of Dongou’s passions is cannelloni. “I ate 16 on Sant Esteve day”, remembers the former Barça player. This Thursday at the Antigua Fábrica Damm in Barcelona, Dongou has ‘tasted’ the cannelloni brought by several of the Jijantes viewers who have enjoyed Gerard Romero’s program live. “I give these a 7.25”, “these burn a lot”, “they are hard”, “they taste very good”, “I don’t like that they are so gratin”, were several of the Cameroonian’s reflections.
Dongou combines his football analysis of Barça in Jijantes with his role as coach in the second team of Can Vidalet. “I really like to train. I lack the third level of coaching, but I like being able to help others and being able to share my experiences with all the boys,” he concludes.
