He Peruvian soccer it is always full of surprises. From very odd clubs like a historic team that sponsored a Ponzi scheme to a club eliminated due to a name change. There’s never a shortage of colorful stories at our popular local tournament. Some of them come from the past of some players who come to Peru with very interesting and for many unthinkable records. This is the case Herve Kambouthe experienced defender from Ivory Coast, who now plays for Unión Comercio.
Hervé Kambou won’t be the most medial player but he has been in Peruvian football for more than 10 years and may say he became national champion with Binacional in 2019. He first came to the country after playing for SC Bastia of France and Cub Africain of Tunisia. It was tested and not on multiple teams – the “U” was one of them – before officially signing for Willy Serrato. However, at the peak of his career he played against world stars.
Hervé Kambou and the day he faced Lionel Messi
While Hervé Kambou was playing for Olympic Charleroi in Belgium, he was called up to the Ivory Coast team scheduled to take part in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. At the time, Kambou was just 22 years old and sharing a team with World Cup figures like Gervinho and Salomon Kalou. The Elephants formed Group A with Argentina, Australia and Serbia and made it through to the Quarterfinals with the South Americans.
The Ivorian just started against Argentina, playing as a central midfielder, a position he has occasionally played in Peru. At the top was nothing more and nothing less than a young Lionel Messi and many other famous footballers like Juan Román Riquelme and Sergio Agüero. Kambou played 90 minutes and his team lost 2-1 thanks to a goal from “Pulga” and another from Lautaro Acosta.
Hervé Kambou with the Ivory Coast 2008 Olympic team. Photo: AFP
After that encounter, they only faced Australia and Serbia in the final minutes and didn’t play Nigeria in the quarter-finals. It was his only experience with the Ivory Coast team.
Hervé Kambou and his arrival in Peruvian football
Hervé Kambou first came to Peru in 2012 when Nolberto Solano convinced him to come to Universitario. As the Ivorian himself said years ago, “Ñol” promised him to open a quota for foreigners. However, he resigned as manager and Kambou was never able to officially join the team. Some time later, in 2013, he completed pre-season training with Alianza Cristiana and also tried it with San Simón and the Sport Boys, but ended up in none.
The Ivorian managed to play officially for a Peruvian club for the first time in 2014 when he signed for Willy Serrato. He alternated in the usual threesome at a good level and moved to the Sport Boys the following year. He played less in the rosés, but it was enough to play for Cantolao first in 2016, and then he was able to spend a season abroad with Venezuela’s Zulia. However, Kambou’s best season was reserved for 2019.
Hervé Kambou won the first title of his career with Binacional in 2019. Photo: GLR archives
The Ivorian was signed by Binacional in 2019, unaware that he would be celebrating his first career title at Matute at the end of the year. He wasn’t always a regular, but he played an important role at the club.
Hervé Kambou is currently 38 years old and makes a move at Unión Comercio as a centre-back and right-back.