In his professional playing career, Blast goalkeeper coach Karim Moumban traveled all over the world.
And he has the wardrobe to prove it.
“He?s got a different attire,” Blast midfielder Robbie Aristodemo said. “It?s something the players are kind of enjoying. Every time you come in, you don?t know what he?s going to wear, whether its snake skin, alligator skin – he?s got some type of different animal on his back every week. It?s always something to see.”
Moumban has helped the Blast goalkeeping unit serve as the back line of the league?s best defense. But he?s also become valuable to the entire team – for the high fashion he sports, both to practice and to games at 1st Mariner Arena.
Players call him the best-dressed coach in the Major Indoor Soccer League.
“The guys tease him and rib him, and he?s good-natured about that,” Blast president Kevin Healey said. “And that lives to good chemistry on the team.”
Moumban, who played with the Blast from 2001-2004, and rode the bus to Baltimore from Washington, D.C. whenhe didn?t have a car, played for the Cameroon National Team in 1989. Professionally, Moumban also played in France, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Costa Rica. He?s found a home in Baltimore, where he?s also the goalkeeper coach with USL Second Division club Crystal Palace USA.
Moumban credits his threads to his multicultural soccer background.
“I played professionally in France. In France, professional players come sharp,” the jovial Moumban said. “You have to come in a suit there to the games, practice. It?s like you?re going to work. I just keep doing the same thing now.”
Moumban accumulated so many snazzy clothes in his time in France that he continues to use the eccentric duds on a daily basis – whether it?s a bright suit or a cowboy-inspired get-up.
“Sometimes we tease him that maybe he has to do a few more sit-ups and the suit?s a little tight on him,” Healey said with a smile. “And he goes with some bright-colored shirts, too. It?salways interesting as he jumps through that sign to see what he has on that night. It?s good to get the guys relaxed before the game when they can tease him about what he?s wearing.”
Aristodemo recalled a brown alligator skin suit: “The whole suit was alligator skin. It was hideous.”
Blast forward Adauto Neto is a fan of Moumban?s purple suit.
“I think that was the wildest one I?ve seen,” Neto said. “It didn?t fit him too well, it almost looked like it was going to blow off him. Every game he dresses different and everybody gets on him pretty good. It?s just in fun, it?s a good time.”
Healey said Moumban has a special place in his heart.
“He?s carved out a niche with us as the goalkeeper coach,” Healey said. “And he?s really, really improved our goalkeeping play since he?s been the coach. He always brings a positive attitude and he?s a true pro.”
