Indomitable Lions Job Reunites Rigobert Song And Raymond Kalla

Rigobert Song and Raymond Kalla, once the reference pair at the heart of the Indomitable Lions defense, are now tasked to defend the hearts of football lovers in the country – after the most recent appointment of the Lions’ technical staff.

Rigobert Song has been appointed head coach, while Raymond Kalla has been named team manager.

The pair started playing together with the Lions from 1994-2002, accumulating 3 World Cups and five AFCON finals between them.

Kalla won 63 caps for Cameroon, and was a participant at three consecutive FIFA World Cups: 1994, 1998 and 2002. In the first he (aged 19) played all the matches and minutes, often being partnered by another youngster, Rigobert Song (17), in an eventual group stage exit. He was part of the victorious 2000 and 2002 African Cup of Nations squads.

After the 2002 World Cup, Kalla announced to retire from the national team due to conflicts with the Federation structure, which he accused of poor organization, but eventually changed his mind.

Initially summoned for the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, Kalla was forced to withdraw due to injury, and retired for the second and definitive time.

Considered a key player for Cameroon for over a decade, Song played in the 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010 FIFA World Cups. He made his international debut on 22 September 1993 in a game against Mexico.

At only 17 years old, Song was given a surprise call-up to Henri Michel’s Cameroon squad for the 1994 World Cup, playing two group matches in the finals against Sweden and Brazil. He received a red card in the match against Brazil, becoming the youngest player ever to be sent off in a World Cup, aged 17. Led by ageless striker Roger Milla, the Indomitable Lions were knocked out in the group stage. The 24 years and 42 days age gap between Milla (42 years and 35 days) and 17-year-old future captain Song (17 years and 358 days) became (and remains) the largest between two teammates in World Cup history.

Song then participated at the 1998 World Cup. Led by Song, Patrick Mboma and 17-year old young striker Samuel Eto’o, Cameroon were eliminated in the group stage following a draw with Austria (1–1), a loss to Italy (3–0) and another draw with Chile. After receiving a red card in the last game against La Roja,[16] Song broke another record—he became the first player ever to be sent off at two different World Cups. Zinedine Zidane, who was also sent off at this World Cup, has since achieved this feat as well, receiving his second red card in the final of the 2006 tournament.

Song was a part of the Cameroon squads that won the 2000 and 2002 Africa Cup of Nations. After winning the 23rd edition of the football championship of Africa, The Indomitable Lions featured in the 2002 World Cup, but were again eliminated in the group stage following a 1–1 draw with the Republic of Ireland, a 1–0 win over Saudi Arabia and a 2–0 defeat to Germany.

Song and Kalla two will immediately begin work in their different capacities as at this moment, in view of the Lions’ double WC qualifiers confrontation against Algeria, on the 25th and 29th of this month. Other offices occupied are; Sebastien Migne (Assistant manager), Augustine Simo (Second Assistant), Souleymanou Hamidou (goalkeeper trainer), David Baltaze (video analyst) and Raphael Fevre (physical trainer).