Salomon Olembe has a long winning record and a career as astonishing as it is atypical. In OMmag “Petit Papa” discusses his career, the national team his performances in Albert Emon’s squad. Extracts.

“Nantes was an important and determining phase in my career. I won the league there in 2001, an unforgettable moment. For a professional player it’s a bit like payback, a dream come true,” recounts the OM player in the latest issue of OMmag.
In his four years with les Canaris, he also won the Coupe de France twice and played in the Champions League.
A great vein of form for Nantes, in stark contrast to the Breton club’s recent fortunes. “It saddens me because I’m still very attached to the club. I hope Nantes can avoid the drop. When you look at how they played against us last time we met (OM 0-0 Nantes, Ed.), there are grounds for confidence,” said Salomon Olembe.

“When OM comes looking for you, you can’t hesitate”

After his adventure with Nantes, the Cameroonian came to Marseille in 2001: “Many people wondered why I left Nantes, who were reigning champions at the time. It’s simple: when a club like OM comes looking for you, you can’t hesitate. You simply say yes. It’s the most prestigious club in France, with the most impressive trophy cabinet. It’s what dreams are made of.”
The defensive midfielder was however loaned to Leeds in 2003. “That was a fantastic experience, on every level. I met some formidable characters there, with whom I am still in touch,” recounts the Cameroonian, who particularly loved the atmosphere in the stadiums. “I saw how the English work from day to day. It was disappointing in terms of results because we were relegated to the second division. There were changes of managers that didn’t help us. The last one for example wanted the team to be more ‘English’,” laments Olembe.
So Salomon returned to the Commanderie: “My return to Marseille wasn’t straightforward. I always put myself at the disposal of the directors and my various coaches. I learned to play in a position that I didn’t particularly like.” He played at right back, “even though I consider myself a midfielder”. But the Cameroonian accepts it: “I wanted to be useful to the team. It wasn’t easy to handle but in hindsight I see that it may have been beneficial,” he concludes.

“I’m a lucky man”

“Nonetheless I played many games Marseille, even during very difficult periods.” It’s true that the native of Yaounde found success very early in his career, but he remains very lucid: “I didn’t realise straight away where I was headed, and the bright lights beckoned. In hindsight, I can see that the lean times made me realise that I had accomplished some amazing things. The rest? They are the hazards of being a footballer. I’m a lucky man. I’ve never had a serious injury and I live my passion.”
On his long journey Salomon has never forgotten Cameroon, his flag nor his national team. “It means a lot because it’s very important to the country. We’re always being challenged by the past. When I arrived in the national team, the benchmark was the team from 1990, and we had to do as well as they had. My generation won the African Cup of Nations twice.”
Lat year the former Nantes man was loaned out again, this time to Qatari club Al-Rayyan. But he came back to Marseille again, almost as if he couldn’t bring himself to bubbling atmosphere of the Stade Vélodrome. “Since my return from Qatar, the club has been very clear: I had until August 31 to find a new team, otherwise I would have to rejoin the pro team at the beginning of September. And that’s what happened. From outside, people thought there was a conflict, but it was a consenting agreement, something planned,” he explained. Back to square one at the start of the season, he didn’t play but applied himself once again. “Albert Emon had his reasons and it’s not my place to judge. He was charged with the task of fielding the best possible team. It wasn’t my place to question his decisions. I respected them, that’s all. Simply put, the team was better without me,” says Salomon who is playing in the CFA2.

“If you’d told me I’d be a starter against Lyon…

“By playing with the reserves, I was able to stay in shape and practice my chops. In a team you need to be heard but you have also have to know how to listen to others. It’s a two-way street. That period allowed me to discover new facets of my mentality,” Olembe underlined.
A champion’s mentality that gave the Cameroonian the opportunity to starter against Lyon in the last 16 of the Coupe de France. “It’s unbelievable. If you’d told me I was going to be a starter…It was a great reward. I had worked hard and made it back to the pro squad. And now I’m a part of the manager’s plans like the other players. It’s awesome,” he enthuses.
And having enjoyed that match, “Petit Papa”, as he has been nicknamed in Cameroon, plans to get his teeth stuck into the end of the season: “Our end to the season will be an extraordinary experience. We’ll play against direct rivals, and we’ll have to string wins together. I often say that a season isn’t won or lost in one match, but in its details.”
In any case, one thing is sure: Salomon is confident the team can finish third. “We have enough good players to reach our goals. I believe we can qualify for the Champions League.”