Kudos to Cameroon : Soccer: World Cup team from Africa impresses local community with its ability and graciousness.
The love affair began at Oxnard College, on a rutted patch of dirt choked by weeds and wildflowers.
That’s where volunteers set out to fashion a world-class soccer venue, clearing the rocks and pulling the weeds, and making the earth smooth and even. That’s where they planted Bermuda sod and tended the lawn until it lay as flat and seamless as carpet.
It was earlier this year, when hundreds of volunteers gathered to whip the field into shape, that Oxnard first fell in love with Cameroon.
Now, Cameroon says it’s in love too.
“People here are so nice,” said Jean-Pierre Tokoto, a representative of the World Cup soccer team from the west coast of Africa. “We feel like we are at home here and we feel wanted.” It’s no wonder. The Cameroonians received an official welcome during a ceremony at Oxnard City Hall and a party in their honor at the home of the mayor.
They also have been greeted at their twice-a-day practices by dozens of fans, some wanting autographs and others only wanting to watch one of the best teams in the world prepare for the world’s largest soccer tournament.
“I tell my kids, ‘You’ll never be able to see this in Oxnard again,’ ” said Efrain Cisneros of Oxnard, who brought his children, Daisy, 9, and Abraham, 7, to an evening practice session. “It’s impossible that the World Cup will ever come here again.”
When it was announced that the tournament would be played in the United States for the first time, World Cup officials said they worried that the games would receive little support. And while that remains a concern nationwide, local support is running high.
Hundreds of soccer enthusiasts have watched the Cameroonians practice at Oxnard College since their arrival. Until Tuesday, adults paid $5 to get in. There is no longer a charge to view practices.
Wednesday morning was typical. Escorted by police, the Cameroon team, known as the Indomitable Lions, arrived aboard a red-and-white tour bus, its side panel emblazoned with the words “Destination America.”
Already, two dozen people were waiting. Children pressed up against the chain-link fence guarding the field, trying to get a better look. Some in the crowd waved, although it was impossible to tell through the bus’ tinted windows whether players returned the salute.
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Officials believe the Cameroon team is the only one in the tournament that opens its practices to the public, and security is tight as a result.
Visitors were searched with metal detectors, and their purses and bags were searched by hand.
“They told me they had to check for hand grenades,” said Betty Creson of Ventura. “That was kind of interesting.”
Creson and her husband, Bob, had come to talk to some of the players about Cameroon. Their son Robert lives in the capital city of Yaounde, and told them about the team’s Ventura County visit.
“We were excited when they came so close last time,” said Betty Creson, referring to the 1990 World Cup where Cameroon became the first African team to advance to the quarterfinals. “We’ll root for them again this year.”
At a ceremony Tuesday at Oxnard City Hall, Mayor Manuel Lopez said he too will root for Cameroon. He also told team representatives how pleased the city is to have them around.
“We are thrilled that your team is here and we are honored by your presence,” he said. “Your country has reason to be proud of you. The Lions are fine ambassadors.”
Two days earlier, Lopez threw a party for the team at his house.
He said it went off without a hitch, except that they had to cancel the carnitas after remembering that some of the players were Muslim. They ate cheese enchiladas and salad instead.
“They were very nice and very accommodating,” Lopez said. “The only thing I worry about is that they have to be very focused. This is serious business.”
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And so they practiced hard on Wednesday, kicking hard and leaping high with the exuberance that makes the team a crowd favorite.
“I think they are pretty good at what they do,” said 10-year-old Samantha Camacho of Port Hueneme, who has won a permanent job retrieving errant balls at team practices. “They are also really funny and nice.”
Those who weren’t playing--including the injured, the exhausted and team trainers--were asked to autograph soccer balls, T-shirts and newspapers. Three-year-old Andrew Hafnor became painfully shy when team trainer Moise Mbeng shot him a few questions.
“How old are you?” Mbeng wanted to know. Andrew wouldn’t answer.
“You know or you don’t know?” Mbeng pressed.
Andrew ran back to his father, John, a former amateur soccer player in Germany. The Hafnor family is vacationing in the area, and decided to take in the World Cup practice before returning to Colorado.
“This is my touch with the game, my chance to say I saw a part of it,” John Hafnor said.
After practice, the players waded into the crowd of journalists and autograph seekers. Some posed for photos with a Brazilian actress. Others took turns turning away shots on goal by youngsters in the crowd.
“We are very happy that Oxnard was selected for us,” said Thomas N’Kono the team’s goalkeeper. “We will try hard to make you proud.”
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Jose Luis Garcia brought his five children to the practice session. They snapped photos with players and collected as many autographs as they could.
“I think it’s very beautiful that they visit us,” Garcia said. “This is one of the star teams. The world is watching them.”
The world is also watching Oxnard, local officials believe.
“This means everything. This is history here,” said Jorge Brescia, the soccer coach at Oxnard College. “This has put Oxnard and Ventura County on the map of the world.”
FYI
The Cameroon soccer team will practice at Oxnard College at 5 p.m. today and hold its final practice Saturday at 4:30 p.m. There is no entry fee, but you must show photo identification to get in. Cameroon’s first game will be Sunday against Sweden in the Rose Bowl.
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