EDMONTON — Jeannot Esua is exactly the type of player FC Edmonton head coach Jeff Paulus was looking for as he built his roster for the inaugural season of the Canadian Premier League.
“I love players that have tons of pace and that are powerful,” Paulus explained. “I love fullbacks that play almost like wingbacks and get forward and attack, and this is a player that won’t get beat for pace and I can’t see any winger overpowering him.”
The 22-year-old Cameroonian fullback caught Paulus’ attention during his 2017 season with Orange County SC of the United Soccer League. During his first foray into North American football, Esua made 12 appearances, including 11 starts, in all competitions, scoring one goal.
”My signing with Orange County SC in 2017 was a great opportunity for me, as it was my first pro contract outside of Africa,” Esua recalled. “It really helped me discover a lot about my talent, thanks to the assistance of my coaches, Logan Pause and Braden Cloutier, as well as my teammates.”
New Player! Defender Jeannot ‘Sama’ Esua joins us from the Rainbow academy in Cameroon and will be available to play @RealMonarchs tomorrow pic.twitter.com/127dlHlyAq
— Orange County Soccer Club (@orangecountysc) June 2, 2017
Esua is a product of the Rainbow Bamenda Academy in his native Cameroon, which is where he spent the 2018 season as he tried to figure out the next move for his career. While back home, Esua was able to work with younger players, and share some of his experiences.
“Coming back from the United States, I was able to impart a lot of positive energy in the minds of the younger players who see me as an example to follow,” said Esua.
The fullback describes himself as a calm player who likes a free-flowing style of football, which describes Paulus’ system to a tee. Esua is eager to return to North America and join FC Edmonton. It’s not often a player has the opportunity to make his mark in a brand new league, and it’s a chance Esua relishes.
“It’s a great delight for a young player like me to play in the inaugural season of the CPL,” Esua enthused. “I can’t wait to get started and write my name in CPL history.
“I am looking forward to helping my club attain the best possible results in its first season in the CPL, and also to try to play as many games as I can and make a name for myself.”
Paulus sees a lot of potential in Esua, as well as lot of drive to improve.
“He’s got aspirations of getting to the highest level, and he’s a player who made an impact in the USL, so I think he’ll have an impact in our league.”