You won’t scare Bong the strong
GAETAN BONG does not do fear. He will not be intimidated by opponents or fans. And if you don’t like the way Gaetan Bong plays...tough. Brighton’s Cameroon defender, 29, is living the dream and is not about to let anyone spoil his moment. So a visit to Old Trafford to face Manchester
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United today with a rookie Brighton team still finding their feet in the top flight does not faze the World Cup star. His mind is strong.
And when other Brighton players, such as striker Jose Izquierdo on Monday night in the 2-2 draw against Stoke, are – to many unbelievably – getting stick from fans, Bong becomes a self-appointed mentor.
Not that Chris Hughton’s team appear to need much succour at the moment.
They twice fought back from a goal down against Stoke and face United unbeaten in five matches.
Bong says: “I love the mentality we have because, even when we’re losing, we just say, ‘to hell with that – let’s go’. We have this strength. We could have lost against Stoke but we came back. You have to react. That is the hardest thing.
“Suddenly you’re a goal down – after everything you have planned – and now you need to score two. At half-time I was talking with Izquierdo. He missed one or two things, his head was down. He said the fans were complaining. I said, ‘I don’t care, we don’t care. Keep trying’. And when he scored, I said, ‘What did I say?’ “I have been there. I have a strong character. I do my thing. If you don’t like my style, try another – and you will see if he is better than me.” Cameroon-born Bong, grew up in France and joined Metz at 13, moved to Valenciennes, had an injury-hit spell with Olympiakos, then Wigan, before moving to Brighton in June 2015. “I came because the boss had ambition,” he says. “He wanted to take the team into the Premier League. If he had not said that I would not have come, because that was my dream. He has let me be who I am. Some managers change you. But he knew what I can do. I know my job, I won’t change. I’m Gaetan Bong. I say to players, ‘do your stuff. If I can help I will’. “When you know someone has his hand on your back, it’s easier.”