Stephen Tataw facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Stephen Tataw Eta | ||
| Date of birth | 31 March 1963 | ||
| Place of birth | Yaoundé, Cameroon | ||
| Date of death | 31 July 2020 (aged 57) | ||
| Place of death | Yaoundé, Cameroon | ||
| Height | 1.82 m | ||
| Playing position | Right-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1984 | Cammack of Kumba | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1988–1991 | Tonnerre Yaoundé | ||
| 1992–1994 | Olympic Mvolyé | ||
| 1995–1996 | Tosu Futures | ||
| National team | |||
| 1986–1994 | Cameroon | 73 | (3) |
|
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Stephen Tataw Eta (born March 31, 1963 – died July 31, 2020) was a famous Cameroonian football player. He played as a right-back, which is a defender position. Stephen Tataw played for clubs in his home country, Cameroon, and also in Japan.
He was the captain of the Cameroon national football team in two big tournaments: the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He also made history by being the first player from Africa to play for a professional football club in Japan.
Contents
Stephen Tataw's Football Journey
Stephen Tataw started his football career with a team called Cammack of Kumba in 1984. Later, he joined Tonnerre Yaoundé and played there from 1988 to 1991. After that, he moved to Olympic Mvolyé and played for them from 1992 to 1994.
Even though Tonnerre Yaoundé was one of the best clubs in Cameroon, they didn't have many modern facilities. They played on a dirt field, and their stadium didn't even have showers or changing rooms. In 1991, it was reported that Tataw earned about £60 a week from playing. He also got another £100 a week from a job at Cameroon Radio Television.
In 1990, Stephen Tataw went to England for a trial with a club called Queens Park Rangers. A trial is when a player trains with a team to see if they are a good fit. The manager thought he was a great player. However, the team already had enough right-backs, so he didn't join them. The next month, he also had a trial with Brighton & Hove Albion.
In 1992, before a big game called the Cameroonian Cup final, Stephen Tataw faced a tough situation. He was able to overcome this challenge and still captain his club, Olympic Mvolyé, in the final match. He played very well, helping his team win the game 1–0 against Diamant Yaoundé.
In 1995, Tataw moved to Japan to play for Tosu Futures. This was a big moment because he was the first African footballer to play for a professional Japanese club. He hoped to help his team reach the top division in Japan, called the J-League. However, in 1997, Tosu Futures had to close down because their main sponsor stopped supporting them. Stephen Tataw wanted to play for the new club in the city, Sagan Tosu, but they couldn't agree on terms. So, he decided to retire from playing.
Playing for Cameroon
Stephen Tataw first played for the Cameroon national football team in December 1986. This was in a game against the Republic of the Congo. After that, he became a regular player for his country.
His most famous time playing for Cameroon was at the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He was the captain of the team. Cameroon made history by becoming the first African country to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup!
They started their journey in Group B against Argentina, who were the champions from 1986. Everyone expected Argentina to win, but Cameroon surprised everyone! They won 1–0 with a goal from François Omam-Biyik.
Next, they won their second game against Romania 2–1. In this match, Roger Milla came on as a substitute and scored two quick goals. Even though they lost their last group game 4–0 to the Soviet Union, their two wins were enough to make them group winners.
In the next round, they played against Colombia. The game was 0–0 after normal time. Again, Roger Milla was the hero, scoring two goals in extra time. Even though Colombia scored one goal, Cameroon won 2–1.
The quarter-final game against England was very exciting. England scored first, but Cameroon fought back in the second half. They scored two goals in four minutes to lead 2–1! However, England got a penalty kick, which tied the game and sent it to extra time. In extra time, Cameroon gave away another penalty, and England won 3–2. Even though they lost, Cameroon's performance was amazing and made their country proud.
The game against Russia at the 1994 FIFA World Cup was Stephen Tataw's last game for his country. In total, he played for the national team 63 times and scored three goals.
Coaching Career
In April 2018, Stephen Tataw was one of many people who applied for the job of coach for the Cameroon national football team.
Achievements
Club
- Cameroon Cup: 1989, 1991 and 1992
International
- Africa Cup of Nations: 1988
See also
In Spanish: Stephen Tataw para niños
