Africa's best footballer

Mboma helped Cameroon win the Olympic gold and the Cup of Nations

Many people who have watched the Indomitable Lions make a clean sweep of Africa's top football laurels, will not be surprised at the choice of their top striker Patrick Mboma as the "African Footballer of Year."

The title is probably the most coveted individual accolade in African football.

What I've seen going back to Cameroon after Sydney is something I'll never forget

  Patrick Mboma, Parma and Cameroon

The winners are most often players of great skills - both on and off the field - who have made great contributions to both club and country.

They are considered role models and household names beyond their countries of birth.

A roll call of some past winners like Roger Milla of Cameroon, Rabah Madjer of Morocco, Kalusha Bwalya of Zambia, George Weah of Liberia, Nwankwo Kanu of Nigeria and Abedi Pele of Ghana attest to this fact.

Except for Cameroonian goalkeeper Thomas Nkono - who won the title in 1982 - all the past winners tend to be strikers or midfielders or goalscorers, generally.

A football family

The 30-year-old Patrick Dem Mboma (born 15th November 1970) was crowned the continent's top player by the Confederation of African Football in recognition of his contribution to the victories of the Indomitable Lions in their African Cup of Nations and Olympics.

Patrick with wife Guila and daughter Elisha

He was born in Douala but his family went to live in France when he was just 2 years old.

" It was me, two elder brothers and my parents. Then we had a sister when we came to France," he said.

His father, Mboma senior, had made a few appearances for the national team.

"People tell me he was a good goalkeeper. I am proud of him," says the junior Mboma.

His two elder brothers were also deeply involved in football but they did not experience Patrick's degree of success.

Argentinian inspiration

Patrick was something of a late starter in football.

Roger Milla: the last Cameroonian to win the African Footballer of the Year in 1990

"The first time that I really dreamed of playing as a professional footballer was after the 1978 World Cup when I saw Argentina's Mario Kempes."

He did not join his first serious club until 1993, (at nearly 23 years of age) when he signed for second division French side, Chateauroux.

He was capped soon after for Cameroon in their World Cup qualifiers.

My mother was in Cameroon, so at 5 a.m. after the final I called her. She said that the house have been invaded, and that a big party was going on

  Patrick Mboma on Olympic victory

The following year, Mboma was dropped from the squad, and he concentrated on trying to establish himself at his new club Paris Saint Germain.

PSG then loaned Mboma to another French club Metz, from where he decided to leave Europe altogether in 1997.

Joy in Japan

The move to Japan's Gamba Osaka in the J-League could have signalled a fading career as many of the European stars going to Japan at the time (like Gary Lineker of England) were in the twilight of their careers.

Winning the African Footballer of the year title takes skills and much more

But where others faded Mboma blossomed to become the top scorer in Japan in 1998, scoring 25 goals in 28 matches.

During the 1998 season Mboma moved to the Italian Serie A side Cagliari and then to Parma.

Olympic glory

This has been the greatest emotion of my entire life

  Patrick on returning to Cameroon after the Olympics

Winning the Olympic football tournament was one of Mboma's greatest achievements.

"My mother was in Cameroon, so at 5 a.m. after the final I called her. She said that the house have been invaded, and that a big party was going on," Mboma said.

"What I've seen going back to Cameroon after Sydney is something I'll never forget. I've seen the people happy," he added.

"There you understand the importance of football. It's happiness, and it's free. You can get it no matter who you are. This has been the greatest emotion of my entire life," said Mboma.

Japan or Korea?

To go to Japan ... we must reach the quarter-finals or semi-finals. I really dream about that

  Patrick Mboma

Commenting on Cameroon's current esteemed position as Olympic champions, African Cup of Nations winners and being voted the best football nation in Africa, Mboma said: "I'm happy for the supporters and for the people of Cameroon.

These successes have managed to unite the country under one single flag, and even if it's for just a single moment, that means a lot. "

And on Cameroon's chances in next year's World Cup? "We have a good chance as we're African champions so we have the responsibility to make it to Korea/Japan," he said.

"To go to Japan - rather than Korea - because of course, I played in Japan and you know Cameroon did well in 1990 but people say that today is a better generation so we really ought to be the best ... we must reach the quarter-finals or semi-finals .. I really dream about that."