Last update July 24, 2024 by colgadosporelfutbol
In 1995, Boca Juniors surprised the football world with an unexpected signing: Alphonse Tchami, an exotic Cameroonian striker from Odense BK in Denmark.
In an era where international transfers were rare, especially from Africa, Tchami arrived at Boca Juniors for a figure close to 1.666.000 Dollars. This incorporation not only generated expectations, but also a mix of doubts among fans and the press. It was the time before the internet and it was not so easy to find information about footballers who did not have an excessively high profile..
The only thing that was known and known about Tchami was that he came from a modest Danish team whose greatest feat in its history, had been to eliminate Real Madrid from the UEFA Cup over two legs after beating them 0-2 to the Madridistas at the Bernabeú and in the season in which they were going to win the League.
That and he had been in the USA World Cup 94 with your selection. Out of that, Little else was known about this Cameroonian attacker. What young people today would call 'random signing'. Thus Tchami became the first African to wear the blue and gold jersey, sharing a dressing room with legends like Diego Maradona and Juan Román Riquelme.
The Alphonse Tchami's official debut with Boca Juniors It occurred 24 February 1995 against Banfield, on the first date of the Clausura tournament. Although he did not score, his performance was remarkable, assisting Sergio “Butter” Martínez for the second goal in the victory by 2-0. A few days later, in his first match at La Bombonera against Newell's, Tchami shone with a double and dispelling doubts about his performance.
The Superclásico of 1995: the day Alphonse Tchami became a legend
The 18 June 1995, Tchami wrote his name in the history of Boca Juniors during the Super classic against River Plate in El Monumental. In an exciting match that ended 4-2 in favor of Boca, Tchami scored one of the goals most remembered by Xeneizes fans. After a pass from Rodolfo Arruabarrena, Tchami launched a powerful shot into the corner, sealing a historic victory for the club.
The Closing 1995 It was a standout season for Tchami, who scored six goals in 18 matches, helping Boca finish in third place in the table. Despite the arrival of Claudio Caniggia, Tchami continued to be a key piece in Boca's attack, demonstrating his ability to appear in decisive moments.
Their 2 seasons at Boca Juniors
During his time in Boca, Tchami formed close friendships with several colleagues, including Alberto Marcico, who spoke French and facilitated his adaptation. further, Tchami had the honor of assisting Juan Román Riquelme in his first goal with Boca, in a rout 6-0 against Hurricane 24 November 1996. A historic moment without a doubt.
These connections not only helped Tchami on the field, but they also strengthened his bond with the club and its fans, suddenly dispelling all the doubts that his surprising signing had aroused among the La Bombonera faithful..
His humble and hard-working attitude, They assured him a special place in the hearts of the Xeneizes followers. Even after leaving the club, Tchami always maintained his love and loyalty towards Boca, always declaring that he was a faithful follower of Boca and that he followed him from a distance.
After his time in Boca, Tchami continued his career in different parts of the world. He played for Hertha Berlin in Germany., and later in several countries, including Arab Emirates, Scotland, France, Ukraine, China and Lebanon.
Tchami's return to Bombonera
The 14 February 2024, Tchami returned to La Bombonera to watch a Boca match against Central Córdoba. Accompanied by his friend Alberto Márcico and meeting Juan Román Riquelme again, Tchami received a warm welcome from the fans, proving that his legacy in Boca is still alive and strong.
