Cameroonian midfielder Joseph Iyendjock made his first appearance for Dinamo Tbilisi’s reserve squad last week after making history by becoming the first fan-backed player to sign a contract with a club in European football.
At just 20 years old Iyendjock’s speedy integration into life at the Georgian club is nothing to scoff at. It may only be reserve team football at present but even that was seen as a stretch so soon after making the life-changing move from his hometown.
Iyendjock’s tale both illustrates the current flaws in talent spotting that make it hard for gifted youngsters, especially in Africa and Asia, to be recruited, and shows what can be achieved if basic barriers such as travel costs and accommodation fees can be removed.