It was in the left piston position that Emmanuel Ntim found the grounds of Ligue 2 on Saturday evening against Niort (1-0). The coach of SM Caen
Stéphane Moulin brought him on in the 86th minute to replace Johann Obiang and secure the result. Original for a boy recruited to play in the axis and able to help out on the sides …. but on the right.
“It’s a position where I have already played. Well, it was in CFA (N2) laughs the Ghanaian defender. I am a player who can play everywhere and I adapt very quickly. I came back wanting to bring things and above all to help the team maintain the score. It feels good to be back in the team and win.”
These four short minutes of play, Emmanuel Ntim takes them as a blessing after his second absence of the season. The most used player last season at Valenciennes, the Ghanaian defender played only 36 short minutes in eleven days with the Caen club.
Six weeks without playing, it was seriously long but I worked well with the team and the physios
“I didn’t expect that, but it’s football. There are sometimes surprises. The most important thing is to put your head higher, to work and to move forward. We know that with football , it goes very fast at the bottom and very fast at the top. I put myself in the work and I am in a very good team. I know that I will have my chance and be able to prove things.
Emmanuel Ntim has not been varnished since his arrival in Normandy. Suspended for the 1st day in Nîmes (0-1), on the bench for the 2nd day and the reception of Metz (1-0) then hit in the quadriceps before the trip to Dijon, the central defender had to wait until the 4th day to finally know his first tenure with his new club.
Facing Guingamp (4-1), he put Ornano in his pocket by scoring with a magnificent bicycle …. before leaving a few minutes later after 32 minutes of play, hit in the Ischios.
“Six weeks without playing, it was seriously long but I worked well with the team and the physios. We worked hard to get me back in good condition. Today I forgot all that. I forgot the injury. I put my head forward and we’ll see what happens.”
As soon as I have my chance, I will work for the team. I don’t put pressure on myself
Recruited in the offseason to strengthen the axis of the Caen defense, Emmanuel Ntim hopes to be done with bad luck and physical glitches. With 36 minutes of play, the Ghanaian is one of the five players with the lowest playing time. He will be able to apply again to play and compete with Adolphe Teikeu. But the 26-year-old thinks first and foremost in terms of the team.
“Everyone wants to play 90 minutes (laughs). The team so far is doing a good job, refrains Emmanuel Ntim_. I am here, I am ready. I don’t want to talk a lot about myself. I get into work. It’s not easy to change a winning team. I’m in the team, that’s the most important thing. I wish happiness for everyone. As soon as I have my chance, I will work for the team. I don’t put pressure on myself. I’m ready physically, mentally and when the coach calls me, I’ll be in the team and I’ll do my job.”_