Where are they now: Roger Feutmba

Roger Feutmba had an awkward running style and unorthodox ball skills. He also had a deadly left foot that made him a standout player at Mamelodi Sundowns.

It was a pity that South Africans only saw the Cameroonian in the twilight of his career as he was one of the best foreigners to play here. He was influential in Sundowns winning three consecutive PSL titles, starting in 1997.

Eight years after retiring and leaving SA, "The General" returns next week for the World Cup.

"I love South Africa with all my heart. I am not going to miss a World Cup on the African continent, especially when it is in a country I fell in love with when I was still a player," he said from Cameroon.

Father of two Feutmba, 42, is the technical adviser at his old club, Union Douala. He also runs a clothing shop and a supermarket with his wife of 18 years, Regina, and is an agent for some young players.

"Life is okay," he said. "I am not complaining. Being a technical adviser, I am not directly involved and I want to be near the action. I am a football person through and through."

Feutmba was spotted by Sundowns when he came to SA with Cameroon for the Nelson Mandela Challenge in 1994.

"Sundowns managers Angelo and Natasha Tsichlas approached me after the match," Feutmba recalled. "They then contacted my club in Belgium and I did not think twice about Sundowns because I knew about the club.

"We had good players such as Raphael Chukwu, Lovers Mohlala, Alex Bapela, Joel "Fire" Masilela, Eric Ramasike and Charles Motlhohi."

Daniel "Mambush" Mudau, the PSL's all-time leading scorer with 108 goals, once told a Johannesburg newspaper that most of his goals came from the accurate passing of Feutmba.

"When Roger joined Sundowns, he added another dimension to the team and made us the finished article. It was a marvel to play alongside him and I would have loved to have had more opportunities with the big man," said Mudau.

Born in Douala, Feutmba played soccer on the streets before he joined a small local club.

"I won my first medal at the age of 18 after scoring for Douala in the National Cameroon Cup against Canon of Yaounde. From then I played for all the junior national teams until I was called up to the senior national team."

He was part of the famous side at Italia '90 that defeated Argentina in the opening match of the World Cup, but did not play as he was considered too young.

"I moved to Belgium after the tournament and had a great time at KV Kortrijk until I joined Sundowns," he said.

He reckons Cameroon and SA are going to surprise many critics at the World Cup.

"Cameroon have the talent to survive the first round. Players such as Samuel Eto'o, Alexander Song, Enoh Eyong and youngster Georges Mandjeck can take the team to the top.

"It is not going to be easy for African countries because this tournament is taking place in Africa. It going to put more pressure on them."

SA, he said, could also go far.

"They have good individual players and I know their style of play and their good skills. They will have the home fans to cheer them on and it will good for the continent in general."

Feutmba will be doing radio and television work during the World Cup and would not mind coming back to SA as a coach.

"I would be happy to give back what SA gave to me," he said.