14 years and four World Cup tournaments ago, Roger Milla, Thomas N'Kono, Francois Omam-Biyick and Emile Mbouh Mbouh were part of the Cameroon team who captured the footballing world's imagination and helped to re-define the African game.
Led by their flamboyant, talismanic striker Roger Milla, the Indomitable Lions stormed to the quarter-finals of Italia '90, bringing to attention and acclaim the tremendous potential of teams from the African continent.
Today, Planet FC - a team purportedly from Cameroon's second division, stands on the verge of gaining a passport to play in the S.League next season.
It has been close to a month since the league's officials spoke excitedly of the 'buzz' surrounding this African club's desire to play in Singapore, and both fans and those in the football industry alike have taken sides in the debate for or against the entry of a third foreign club in the S.League, approaching its 10th season next year.
English: A montage of various Singapore images.
Cameroon-Coffee and Cocoa Agroforestry-January, 20...
Club logoIs there a need for a third foreign club in Singapore? I say: yes, absolutely, why not? What do we have to lose? Bring the Africans into the S.League and let us see what these guys are truly made of.
In 2003, the league witnessed the debut of its first foreign club in the form of Chinese side Sinchi FC. Besides two years' of lacklustre performances on the pitch and all sorts of histrionics off it, they have achieved little despite the support of many sponsors.
But all credit to them for having taken the gamble to start from scratch in the S.League. Hopefully their fortunes will take an upward swing next season, or else it is probably the end of the road for the pioneer foreign team in the S.League.
This year, J-League side Albirex Niigata sent their feeder squad...