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The extraordinary story of the Cameroon coach, how the dog saved his life

2022-12-01 20:47:00, Sport CNA

Cameroon are preparing for their first World Cup 'final' match against Brazil, where the African side will look to emulate their coach, Rigobert Song, to make the impossible possible.

Song was one of Cameroon's brightest stars along with former teammate Samuel Eto'o. The former Liverpool defender has played in four World Cups as a player and is currently appearing in a fifth, but in the role of Cameroon coach.

Known for his power and dyeing his hair and beard blonde, Song was appointed as Cameroon coach in February this year replacing Portuguese coach Toni Conceicao.

Song had a strong final against Algeria, helping Cameroon book their place at the 2022 World Cup.

Overcoming a stroke

While Song is no stranger to overcoming impossible situations, his biggest achievement to date has to be his recovery from a stroke he suffered in 2016.

Song admits to L'Equipe that it was his dog that saved his life.

“Po shikoja televizor, por ndihesha shumë i lodhur. E lashë derën hapur sepse prisja një vizitor. Nëse do të ishte mbyllur, do të kishte mbaruar sepse familja ime ishte në Paris. Qeni im duhet të ketë ndjerë diçka dhe filloi të leh. Pastaj erdhi personi që prisja dhe më pa të shtrirë në dysheme”, tregon Song.

Ndërhyrja e Presidentit

Pas goditjes në tru, Song pati vështirësi për të siguruar vëmendjen e nevojshme spitalore që i nevojitej dhe falënderon presidentin e atëhershëm Paul Biya dhe familjen e tij për mbështetjen e tyre.

“Pa atë [Biya] ose gruan e tij, nuk do të isha këtu sot. Nuk mund të jem mjaftueshëm mirënjohës”.

“Presidenti i Kamerunit i tha familjes sime se ai do të kujdesej për gjithçka”, tregon Song.

Rastet si të tijat, shumë shpesh përfundojnë me fatalitet, pra 30 nga 40 raste.

Jeta e përtejme dhe takimi me të afërmit që kishin vdekur

In his comatose state, Song says he had a series of visions that eventually helped him recover, including a meeting with his father who died when Rigobert was still a child.

"It was like a dream. I was reunited with my ancestors. My father died when I was 9, but I knew him. He said to me: "What are you doing here? You have to go back."

“It happened to me with Alex Song's father and my father's older brother. Hearing them, I began to struggle. I had incredible strength and started screaming: Let me go, let me go!” he says.

Song will be hoping to instill this level of consistency in his players when Cameroon face Brazil on December 3.-

The African nation has only once progressed directly to the knockout stage during the 1990 World Cup in Italy.