THE GREAT COACHES

Here are some of the Cameroonian coaches that have had a significant influence on the Players.

"Pater" Bidjang AKA "DT"

Etienne, Obah Nkoa AKA OBH

Mbombo Ibrahim

Etienne Zedong AKA "ZED"

Coach Tatang

Pepouna Munyutu " Pepso"

"Pater" Bidjang AKA "DT"

Pater Bidjang was one of most if not the most influential coach in the history of Cameroon Basketball. He coached men and women basketball for over 3 decades. During his late years Coach Bidjang focused mainly on women basketball. He was a man of principle. Coach Bidjang knew how to impose discipline among his players. He trained many of the girls that are present in Cameroonian Basketball today. One of the talent that discovered and trained in his school is now the dominant center for Hoyas Women Basketball team, Susie Bendengue. Pater Bidjang died in mid 1997. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest coaches that Cameroon has ever known.

Etienne, Obah Nkoa AKA OBH

Teacher at the INJS, OBH is one of the coaches that should be honored here. He is known for his free style of play. Many of his ex-players still remember how he used to organize games during practices and let the players express themselves. OBH's philosophy of the game is simple. Every one of his ex-players still remembers the things he likes to say like " exprimez-vous les gars" meaning " express yourself, son."
Because of this many of ex-players are now known to have excelled in Basketball particualrly in terms of basketball skills and instincts. OBH has trained many great cameroonian basketball players in his basketball school in INJS, Yaounde.

Mbombo Ibrahim

If there is one coach that has excelled in Basketball and put emphasis on education in Cameroon is certainly Coach Mbombo. Very good Coach for his knowledge of the game and motivational techniques, Coach Mbombo is known to have trained some of cameroon finest players such as Okala Blaise AKA Okapio. Coach Mbombo immediately inspires respect and admiration. While coaching, he really cared for his players making sure that they meet the academic standard he imposed on them. At every one surprise, Coach Mbombo kicked some players out his team for failure of his academic requirements. He firmly believes that "Basketball is for intellectuals." Namely it can't be practiced without an education on the side.

Etienne Zedong AKA "ZED"

The only coach in Cameroon to have had a direct american experience. Zed was a graduate assistant at Ball State, Indiana where he finished with a Master Degree in Physical Education. His philosophy is very reflective of the "american style." Cameroonian players know him for his physical conditioning and his emphasis on defense. His offensive style is rigidly structured. T o play for Zed, you have to know his plays. ZED has a well structured basketball training camp established in Yaounde, Cameroon where he detects talent. A success of the ZED Basketball School is Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje who is now the dominant center at Georgetown University. Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje might very well be the first Cameroonian to play in the NBA.

Coach Tatang

Coach Tatang is known to have built many Basketball courts in Yaounde. The first court he built was in "Lycee Bilingue." It is on this court that many Cameroonian sensations emerged such Joe Touomou (Gtown 99') Charles Minlend (St. John's 97') Ray Minlend (St. Francis NY 99') Ray "Tata" Touomou (Rider 98'). It is also on this court that the spirit of Kosengwe came to be. Coach Tatang was appointed to the "Lycee de Biyem-assi" where he built a multicomplex made of two Basketball courts and Handball court and two Volleyball courts. Many athletes today are thankful to him for what he has done. He has exposed many of them to the wonderfulness of the game of Basketball. Coach Tatang today is still figuring out how he is going build more and expose more kids to the Game of Basketball

Pepouna Munyutu " Pepso"

Pepso represents a symbol to Cameroonian Basketball. A symbol of the breath of fresh air that Cameroonian Basketball needs. Pepso has been a fan, player, student of thge game of Basketball. He is a young dynamic coach that has a good appreciation of the fundamentals of the game of Basketball. Pepso is now pursuing a Professional Degree in Physical Education in INJS in Yaounde, Cameroon.
Pepso has just created a Basketball School called the "Freelance BC" where he is training about 30 kids of age ranging from 10 to 17 years old.