At the beginning of the 1994-1995 season, Jean Claude’s professional career was finally launched as he was picked up by French second tier club AS Beauvais Oise (ASBO, but not Anti Social Behaviour Disorder!).   Having finally made his dreams come true and arrived at a club in the Promised Land of Europe, Jean Claude found that he had a fair bit to learn.  He was first placed in the club’s academy, where he spent a year honing his technique and tactical acumen.   

During that year, Beauvais struggled and the team was relegated to the National leagues.   Olympique Marseilles topped the division, having been relegated the previous season following the bribery scandal that engulfed the club in the early 90’s.

The following season, Jean Claude was deemed ready by his club and was thrown straight into the action.   Playing at left back, JC helped contribute to a season during which ASBO were promoted back to League 2 and shipped the fewest goals in their league, conceding only 24 all season.    This was the season during which the Bosman ruling came into effect.  While this threw open the European labour markets to European footballers it also focussed attention on non-EU nationals.

JC was subsequently transferred to USL Dunquerque where manager Alex Dupont rapidly installed him as one of his defensive lynchpins.  His experiences and performances playing alongside José Pierre-Fanfan – a future Lens, Monaco, PSG and Rangers player – caught the eye of many, including Henri Depireux, the then Belgian coach of the Cameroon national team. 

It was now April 1997 and with the World Cup in France rapidly approaching Jean Claude appeared to be timing his run to perfection…

Coming soon – Part 4: “It’s not a matter of life and death…it’s more important than that.”