A day with Batamo

Fans and others who knew Mount Cameroon Fc back in those days would certainly be familiar with the name Batamo. The tough tackling defender whose name became a synonym for the left back role. A key member of the team in its glory days, Batamo (real name Mutia Jonathan),  has remained at the club even through its decline. In recognition of his loyalty but especially thanks to his skills and technical know how, founding President Calvin Foinding appointed him head coach to oversee the football club and the academy. Our journey takes us through his present role as a player back to his days on the pitch, his brush with the Indomitable Lions, his relationship with players and coaches as well as his personal life.

It is a very busy Batamo we meet this morning as he leads the U-14 squad to the training pitch. Focused, he is passing on his vast knowledge and experience down to the younger generation.

‘’ Football is my life and I am happy to give back to the kids what I learned in my playing days,’’ Batamo tells us.

His love for coaching dates back to 1995 when he was playing for Kumbo Strikers. Despite his youthfulness, he owned and trained his team in his neighbourhood which he guided to local inter-quarter competitions.

‘’Back then, I won the first edition of the Top Cup in the North West province with my team. we used to be called Top Anana,’’ Batamo recalls.

Today, he is delighted to see one of his talents back then, Kongnyuy Jude shine in the National Professional League with Yong Sport Academy.

Kongnyuy Jude, one of Batamo's products

He is thus bolstered in his daunting task of returning Mount Cameroon Football Club back to elite football as well as groom the academy kids.

‘’I think we can get back to the Elite Two, we just need to be focused as a team and we will be there in the nearest future,’’ the coach says.

The qualities of a good coach

Mutia Jonathan who recently went completed a Fecafoot Licence A badge says each coach has distinct qualities. Some are physically good, others are technically spot on, others are tactically aware while others are psychologically unbeatable. While it is difficult to have all these qualities at the same time, Batamo says  it is important to blend some of these qualities to reach the top level. These are ju the qualities he tried to emulate from the wealth of coaches he had during his playing days.

Batamo (r) after a FIFA coaching clinic

‘’I was lucky to play under so many experienced coaches in my career and I picked at least one aspect from each of them which I am putting into practice today,’’ Batamo whose playing career spans over 20 years says.

‘’Tactically, Claude Leroy and Gweha Ikouam were the best, physically no one beats Jules Nyongha and Jean Paul Akono,’’ Batamo notes.

He played under other experienced coaches like Etienne Sonckeng, Jean Baptiste Kiam, Manga Onguene, Tonye Tonye Nicolas, Djonkep Bonaventure, Alexandre Belinga, Kunde Emmanuel just to name a few.

First Jules Nyongha dropped Batamo for the 2006 Afcon

On his near misses with the Indomitable Lions

Batamo was a member of the crop of talented players in the junior Lions in the mid-90s. While the others graduated to the national team and won back to back Africa Cup of Nations trophy in 2000 and 2002, Batamo never really fulfilled his potentials. First he was dropped at the last minute by Jules Nyongha before the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa before suffering the same fate two years later this time under Jean Manga Onguene. He however holds no grudge and believes the coaches made the right decision for the team back.

Then Manga Onguene did same before the 1998 Afcon

‘’ There were very talented players at the time. Contrary to what people say, only the best could be selected for the national team.  I was just unfortunate to be dropped at the last minute,’’ Batamo says.

How he got to the national team

Mutia Jonathan started back in 1990 as a secondary school boy with PWD Bamenda. Three years later he moved  to Kumbo Strikers where his exceptional performances attracted Tonnerre of Yaounde who snapped him up in 1997. While at Kumbo Strikers, he was a regular with the Junior Lions and obviously caught the eyes of Jules Nyongha, Jean Manga Onguene, and Claude Leroy, successively Indomitable Lions coaches. 

 Batamo(l) PWD B'da and Joel Epalle (Prevoyance Yde) in the 92/93 season

He later left Tonnerre to Mount Cameroon FC in 2001 where he spent five seasons, winning the Cup of Cameroon before spending a six-month stint with Union of Douala before returning to Tonnerre where he spent one season  and back to Mount Cameroon Fc where he retired and took up his present coaching role.

Tough Job Coaching

Unsure of funds due to the lack of sponsors and wholly dependent on their president Calvin Foinding for funding, the coach says times are tough. It becomes difficult to make long-term plans.

Batamo leading his team in prayers

Personal Life

Batamo who hails from Momo division in the North West region of Cameroon is a happily married man with five children-four girls and a boy).

He enjoys a special relationship with former team mates Joel Epalle, Kameni Carlos, Samuel Eto’o and Robert Mba Jama whom he describes as a ‘’brother’’.

* Editing by Franklin Sone Bayen