Eloundou’s long journey from Cameroon to the USA

By Richard Fleming, Denver, Colorado

When Charles Eloundou took his last few steps from the Colorado Rapids stadium to their training fields last week, it was the end of what had been a long and drawn-out journey from Cameroon.

The 18-year-old had been listed as number 99 on the Rapids squad since the end of January, and yet he did not even kick a ball for the team until the end of October. 

His surprise arrival in Denver came just days after Coton Sport had lost in the semi-finals of the African Champions League to Al Ahly.

Unfortunately he arrives just as the Rapids’ season comes to an end too following their loss on Wednesday to Seattle Sounders in the first round of the MLS play-offs.

Eloundou was registered with Cameroonian side AS Fortuna but has been on loan at Unisport Bafang and more recently Coton Sport.

“I was waiting on my agent to work on the paperwork and everything between the club here and the club where I was playing in Cameroon,” Eloundou said.

“That’s why it took me long to get here.”

The teenager originally signed a one-year loan deal with Major League Soccer (MLS) at the tail-end of 2012 however visa issues meant he was unable to take his place in the MLS SuperDraft. Read more