Former Indomitable Lions Player Dies

By Innocent Mbunwe

Former Indomitable Lions player, Jean Pierre Djemba Elemva left the soccer podium on Monday, February, 16, after a protracted pneumonia.

Djemba died at the National Social Insurance Fund, NSIF, Hospital in Essos, Yaoundé.
His wife, Nicole Djemba Ngono, made public the information. Djemba, 59, at the time of his death, was amongst other things, Sports Consultant at Cameroon Radio and Television, CRTV.

Djemba started his soccer career in Cameroon, in 1966 where he played for Diamant and Tonnerre Kalara Club of Yaounde. While at Diamant, he won the Cup of Cameroon in 1971 and 1972. At 16, Djemba joined the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

After his brilliant show in Cameroon, he will travel to France where he continued with his education and also traded his football skills with Reims, Troyes, Aube Football Club, US Miakoff and Racing Club of Paris between 1973 and 1979.

The deceased, donned the Lions T-Shirt on many occasions in international competitions. He played the semi final African Nations Cup encounter against Congo hosted by Cameroon in 1972.

Before his demise, Djemba, on January 9, officially, declared his candidature for the most coveted position of Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT. Observers hold that the CRTV football advisor had the blessings of Sports and Physical Education Minister, Thierry Augustin Edjoa, to challenge the Federation's incumbent, Iya Mohammed.

Djemba, queued up for the FECAFOOT top job along side, Patrice Tchamtche and Gilbert kadji though the Kadji Sports Academy boss later retracted his statement about his candidature.It is worth noting that Djemba was amongst those who applied to be coach of the Indomitable Lions in 2007 but lost to current trainer, Otto Pfister.

Djemba comes from a family of soccer fame. His father, Jean Elemva had once been the Treasurer and Secretary General of FECAFOOT just like the elder brother, Emmanuel Mve Elemva, one time captain of the Indomitable Lions.

Djemba was born on June 20, 1950.  His first marriage was in 1980, to a Russian woman with whom they are blessed with two children.  But they will divorce in 1987. He later on got married to Nicole Ngono and they have a child.