OM is in mourning. This Wednesday, the Marseille club mourns one of its most prolific scorers, the Cameroonian striker Joseph Yegba Maya, who played in the white jersey (and not yet sky) from 1962 to 1970. Also passing through Strasbourg and Valenciennes in his career, the former Indomitable Lion passed away on Sunday at the age of 82.
“ Arriving in 1962 at OM then in the second division, the Cameroonian striker left Marseille eight seasons later after scoring 113 goals in 236 matches. Few Olympians have shaken the nets so often », underline the Marseille institution. Only six players have done better under his banner: Gunnar Andersson (194), Jean-Pierre Papin (182), Josip Skoblar (176), Jean Boyer (170), Emmanuel Aznar (148) and Joseph Alcazar (140).
A Coupe de France to his credit
“ His name is attached to a front page in the club’s history. When OM discovers Europe in official competition, in the Karl Rappan Cup (or International Football Cup, the ancestor of the Intertoto Cup), he is on the pitch and scores: OM’s first European goal bears his signaturestill tells the story of the Provençal club. In 1969, he was still present at a decisive moment. Scorer in the final of the Coupe de France against Bordeaux (2-0), he gave the club a trophy which announced his return to the forefront. »
Trained at the Yaoundé Dragon, Joseph Yegba Maya joined Marseille from Cameroon at the age of 16. He would be spotted by OM two years later during a Coupe de Provence match played under the colors of Gallia Chutes-Lavie, then a mechanic at SNCF. “ Olympique de Marseille sends its most sincere condolences to his family and loved ones », concludes the Marseille press release.
