Who is Wilfrid Kaptoum?The young Barça midfielder has not had things easy, but he's managed to come out the other sideWilfrid Jaures Kaptoum (7-7-1996), Douala (Cameroon), has become the talk of Barça B. For the fans that didn’t know him, his return from injury has been one of the most exciting things this season. The coaches and his team-mates, though, are not surprised, because for many years he has been singled out as the midfielder at the club with the most potential, along with Sergi Samper.
“His return is great news for everyone. He is a special player. I am happy for him because he is destined to be an important player,” Gerard Lopez, Barça B’s boss, said recently. In just three outings, the last as a starter against Lleida, he’s shown his ability and his impressive final pass. He’s also got the ‘pausa’ that many top players have, which led to him being nicknamed Zizou, after Zinedine Zidane. It’s not gone unnoticed by Luis Enrique, who added him to first team training on Monday.
Two days before then, he spoke to SPORT in the mixed zone after the win over Lleida and was dreaming of a first team chance. “I am working hard to get that opportunity. I can only work, work and work so that one day they’ll look at me and I can have the chance to play with [the first team].
Those that know him define him as a reserved kid, but who character. That’s best proven by his time at Infantile A, when he offered to play in goal when the goalkeeper was injured in a tournament in Arnedo. Kaptoum saved a penalty from Real Madrid’s Pozo in a penalty shoot-out and Barça won the trophy.
Now, comparisons are made with Thiago Alcantara, but he says he’s more focused on Andres Iniesta. “They’re all really good, but if I had to choose anyone in my position I would say Iniesta. I have a similar profile to him and also because he came from La Masia, with the values that he demonstrated. He’s a great person and a great footballer.”
On Monday he shared a training session with one of his great idols, but he is aware that his place at the moment is in the B team, where he can grow. “[Manager] Gerard [Lopez] is demanding with me and wants to get the best out of me. And Garcia Pimiento coached me in the earlier age groups, in the Juveniles. I have learned a lot from him. He’s been an important person in my evolution.”
It’s an evolution that has to continue if he wants to be competitive at an elite level within the game. In 2011, as a Cadete, it was already clear at the club where his growth had to be focused. “Technically he’s very good, but defensively he gets distracted too easily. It doesn’t need to be forced, because at this level he can get away with it. He likes driving with the ball, we’ll have to wait to the Juveniles and see how he is physically to see his projection,” a coach said at the time.
For years have passed and not only has Kaptoum had to deal with rivals further ahead in their physical development, but injuries have been sadly too common. Last season, for example, he missed most of the season with a muscle problem. “It was really bad, of course. There were many months away from the pitch and there were difficult moments, but in the end everything’s worked out OK. I’m grateful to the club doctors, the coaches and my team-mates — they have helped me a lot. And here I am, fighting with them again to move forward.”
During this process, his agent, Ivan de la Pena, has become his confidant. The psychological support from a person who knows about the frustration of these type of injuries has been important. Kaptoum has emerged from the experience strengthened and desperate to enjoy football again. “The confidence shown in me by the coaches and the club has given me the strength and the desire to want to triumph in the world of football, to help my team-mates. Above all, the medical team have been great. They were always very attentive to my recovery.”
As well as the club’s medical team, he also counted on the support of his family. “No, I never despaired. I was good mentally because of the help of my family and the team. Everything has gone well, thanks to the doctors, as I said before, and I appreciate them a lot. I am also thankful for my representatives for their support and in the end everything has worked out. I had to work a lot to achieve it, though.” Since his first minutes against Alcoyano, the fans are becoming frequently more accustomed to the Cameroon player’s emerging talent.
He prefers to focus on improving the B team’s results and they have made steps forward in recent weeks. “It’s nice when people praise you, but I try to be myself and work to achieve my objectives. We are in a moment where we have to get results and work hard. I’m satisfied if what I bring to the team has helped serve the side’s needs on the pitch,” he said.
It has taken the youngsters of Barça B time to adapt to Segunda B following last season’s relegation. Accustomed to Segunda A, they now have to compete at smaller ground and play in rougher games. Kaptoum will have to play more pragmatically than in the younger age groups, when the coaches often took full advantage of his technical ability. “Against Lleida I enjoyed it. We are in a difficult division and we are working hard for results, which is what’s important now.”
On Monday, for a while, he got to forget about the third tier of Spanish football and was able to enjoy training with the best. He was once again with the first team on Tuesday and is in the squad for Wednesday’s Copa del Rey game against Villanovense. Fans hope Kaptoum can continue to star like he always has done at La Masia.