Astres in Third Attempt
After unsuccessful bids in 2007 and 2009, the Brazilians of Douala are hoping to be victorious this time.
Astres football club of Douala will be in their third attempt to grab the Cup of Cameroon title. The Brazilians of Douala have qualified twice for the cup of Cameroon finals but each time failed to achieve final glory. In 2007, Astres bowed to Cotonsport of Garoua in the final and in 2009, their hopes of were thwarted again at the final when they were beaten 3-2 by Panthere Bangante alias Nzuimanto. Astres is therefore hoping to grasp this trophy which has eluded them in the past in their third attempt next Sunday, October 31, 2010.
The journey to the final has not however been an easy ride for Astres. In the 16th finals, Astres ousted a highly rated Tiko United, 2-1 after prolongations to gain a place in the 8th finals. After pulling a 2-2 draw in the away leg, Astres edged AS Lausanne 2-1 in the return leg to sail to the quarter finals on a 4-3 aggregate. The greatest hurdle to the final was at the quarter final stage where they had top face a giant in Cameroonian football, Union of Douala. Both teams were unable to dent each other’s net in the away and return leg matches and had to be separated through penalty shoot-outs. Asters emerged victorious scoring 5 penalties as against 4 for Union. Astres accomplished the extra ordinary feat of ousting another giant at the semi finals, beating the colossus from the North, Cotonsport of Garoua in their own backyard at the Omnisport stadium in Garoua 1-0 in the return leg after both sides separated on a one-all draw in the away leg. The match against Fovu next Sunday, is a fratricidal war in that both teams are managed by one person. Astres would however like to win as the club has no title to its credits whereas Fovu won the cup of Cameroon in 2001.
Astres has what it takes to win in that the club has had an impressive record ever since its creation in 2002. Astres had a promising start from the beginning. Barely two years after its creation, the club ascended to the first division by winning the then Interpool cup in 2004. They have made three appearances at the CAF Confederations Cup. In 2006 the came out in the first round, in 2007 they were eliminated at the group stage and in 2008 they came out in the third round.
Fred VUBEM TOH
