CLOVIS KAMDJO
The news that Clovis was not included in the players on the retained list at the end of last season was very sad, but rather expected. Clovis had become something of a folk hero at Underhill, often called ‘Clovinho’ by the fans and to some extent, share the same kind of affection from the East Terrace as Liam Hatch used to. Fans were aware of some of Clovis’ shortcomings – if he made a bad mistake it was often referred to as a ‘Clovis moment’ – but many fans were also charmed by this Cameroon born player and appreciative of his completely whole hearted approach.
Clovis joined Barnet in the summer of 2009 and last season he was the Bees’ longest serving player. He had previously been with Reading where he had been youth team captain and had also been on work experience with CheltenhamTown.
Clovis made his Barnet debut against Torquay in August 2009 playing at centre back – he had featured at right back in some of the pre-season games – and was in and out of the team in his first season at the club not helped by being out injured for a spell with damaged ligaments. Clovis signed a new two year contract in the summer of 2010 but initially found it hard to get a regular first team place under new manager, Mark Stimson and did not make his first start of the season until the end of September and Clovis was mostly a regular in the team after that point making 28 starts in all that season helping the Bees pull off their remarkable escape from relegation at the end of the season under first, Martin Allen and then Giuliano Grazioli. Clovis scored his first goal for Barnet in the 2-2 draw at home to Oxford United.
The following season, under Lawrie Sanchez, Clovis was a regular throughout the season making 51 league starts and was converted by Sanchez into a defensive midfield player, a position that Clovis seemed ideally suited for and in which he was a great success. Clovis even popped up with 4 goals as the bees carried off another last day escape again under Martin Allen.
Under Mark Robson, Kamdjo started the season as a first team regular and remained so for a time on Edgar Davids’ arrival, scoring a late winner in the home game against Torquay United. However, on Robson’s departure, Kamdjo fell out of favour as Davids developed the team’s playing style to be more of a passing one and Clovis’ more combative style was not reeling in keeping with this and, ultimately, it was not such a surprise that Kamdjo was not retained at the end of the season. Many fans thought that Kamdjo could have played a more major part in the side’s fight to escape relegation last season and that he might just have made the difference. Clovis made 130 appearances for the Bees, scoring 6 goals.
Clovis is sure to find another club and possibly maybe even a League One club, who knows? He will be missed at Barnet and Barnet Mad wishes him all the best in the future.