Hard work, focus & faith, key to success - Njie

Cameroon Centre forward, Njie Clinton Mua tells young players that hard work, focus and faith are the ingredients to success.

Exploding into the Cameroon football scene during the Nations Cup qualifiers the student of the Brasseries Football School says the changes in the national into the national team has ushered in good omen.

Njie who contributed enormously to Cameroon’s qualification for the Nations Cup scoring three goals says there is a good blend between play and work in an atmosphere of conviviality in the Lion’s den. Njie who also played with the U-20 spoke to www.lions4life ahead of the Ivory-Cameroon game.

Read Excerpts:

How did Njie Clinton find himself in the Cameroon national team?

Well, for a long while I had been dreaming of playing for the national team and I was spotted thanks to my performance in club.

How did the coach spot you?

I think he had been watching my matches and when he called me I told him I was ready to defend my country.

But, before then you disappeared for some time after playing in Buea, where were you?

After Buea, I was in Douala for about three years in the Brasseries Football School and from there I went directly to Lyon in 2010-/2011 where I have been for the past years.

During your first cap for the national team you exploded scoring a goal, what would you say to those who think you are good luck to the national team?

I think the credit goes to the federation for the changes in the national team, not me and it is a good thing for us, to me that is the luck in it.

What is the ambiance in the team especially in terms of discipline?

The coach is someone who is very strict with his work, when it time to play we play and when it is time to work we work very hard. For the group, we have a very good life style and everybody is happy to be in the team.

Playing against Ivory Coast how do you foresee the game now that Cameroon is qualified?

All the games are not easy and it is going to be a difficult game, but we are not going there to play for the sake of playing but to do our best and continue with what we started.

Outside football what does Clinton do with his life?

For the moment I don’t do anything outside football. When I am with the team and club I play football, and I watch football on TV, that is just my life.

When in Cameroon do you go help your mother in the farm?

Back then, (laughs) if there is an opportunity I will go, I don’t have time there are so many things that require my attention when I am at home.

Can we know a little bit about your family?

I have two sisters and grow up with about seven cousins. I grew up with my Aunty and Uncle who also have three kids like my mum and grand mum.

We saw the national team qualify for the African Nations Cup, when you watched the team that failed to qualify for the nations cup back then what were your thoughts?

I know this is football and I knew that one day things would take a different course and thank God things have changed for the better.

You still have friends with whom you played in Buea what would you say to them?

I want to thank them for contributing to my success, for their encouragement and while I was playing with them I gained experience too.

What are your ambitions, idol?

My idol in the national team has been Samuel Eto’o Fils, he is someone I respect a lot in the pitch, he is a model and gave me the motivation to get into the national team because he started as young player and was very performant.

Any projects, continue in Lyon, leave?

I am happy being in Lyon and for the future I can’t say.

What would be your advice to younger players?

They should keep working hard, stay focused and keep the faith for this is one of the keys to success.