FOLLOW US ON TWITTER | FACEBOOK
A PROUD Arnaud Djoum showed off his Africa Cup of Nations winner’s medal to his team-mates this week and hopes it will not be the only silverware on show in the Hearts dressing room this season.
The 29-year-old lived the dream when he helped Cameroon to their shock final victory over Egypt in Gabon almost a fortnight ago.
The former Anderlecht and Roda JC midfielder then returned to Hearts to play as a substitute in last Sunday’s Scottish Cup clash with Hibs and could be back in the starting line-up for the first time in seven weeks against Inverness Caley Thistle on Saturday.
He will do so still on a high from the Indomitable Lions’ incredible success and is determined it will not be the last time he will be celebrating this term.
He said: “What I have done in a year and a half is something crazy, I could write a book!
“It’s just crazy, I still don’t believe it. I think later I will realise what I have done and what I will continue to do as well.
“It has been a big achievement.
“My medal is at home now but I brought it here on Thursday to show to the guys and to the people here.
“My team-mates asked to see it so I brought it in to show to the players.
“Will it be my last medal this season? No, I hope not. We are still alive in the [Scottish] Cup and we will do everything to get to the final. We will do everything we can.”
COLLECTIVE
Fourth-placed Hearts, who were held to a frustrating draw by Hibs in last weekend’s Edinburgh derby, can give their hopes of qualifying for Europe a boost with a victory over Inverness.
It would also send them into Wednesday’s cup replay on a high.
And Djoum insists his success in the Africa Cup of Nations has taught him just what is needed for any team to be successful.
He added: “How I see it, to win things and win games it is not about individuality, it is about the collective. That is what I learned really well over there.
“Nobody expected that we would win this trophy but we played as a group and that is why we won. I think Hearts have to try to do it like that.
“We must see that the team is the most important thing, not the individual.
“If we can play like this, as a team, then I think we can achieve good things as I think we have the quality.”
