By Bakah Derick
Cameroon's Minister of Sports and Physical Education has announced the appointment of former PWD of Bamenda playmaker Simo Augustine as Assistant Coach of the Senior National Team of Cameroon nicknamed the Indomitable Lions. The announcement is contained in a release made public on Monday 28 February 2022 by Prof Narcise Mouelle Kombi said to be with instructions from the Presidency of the Republic specifically from the Minister of State, Secretary General at the presidency.
Simo Augustine has been appointed alongside six others in replacement of the former technical staff that led Cameroon to a third place at the just ended Africa Cup of nations (AFCON) at home. Simo shall be assisting Cameroon's emblematic national team captain Rigobert Song as lead trainer who takes over from Antonio Conceiçao. Joining Song and Simo, will be other former indomitable lions players like Raymond Kalla, Team Manager, Souleymanou Goal keeper trainer. Former Uganda Coach, Migne Sebastian and Fevre Raphael are on the list as deputy trainer and Physical fitness coach respectively.
Born in 1978 in Bangangte West Region of Cameroon, Simo Augustine grow up in Bamenda beginning his career with PWD Bamenda in 1994. For just a year he made this presence felt in the Abakwa club before moving to Aigle of Nkongssamba one of the popular clubs in the country at the time. Before the season could end, Simo will be called up for the under 23 national team and then moved to Itali where he joined now Serie A side Torino. He will then stay in Europe to play for clubs like Lugano, Saint-Étienne, Neuchâtel Xamax, Zürich, Urania Genève Sport amongst others.
From 1995 to 1998, Simo Augustine became a regular for the Indomitable Lions playing 15 matches and scoring three goals.
After over 19 years on the pitch as a player, Simo Augustine decided to take a new career path as a coach concluding his training in 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland where he based after his retirement.
The new team's major challenge will be to phase Algeria in the last round world cup qualify on home and away later this month.