How I spend my millions
– Eto’o
By GBOLAHAN DADA
Wednesday,
March 15,
2006
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•Eto's
Fils
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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Barcelona star and Indomitable Lions hit man, Samuel Eto’o
Fils, is a generous man. A caring person and kindhearted footballer,
who puts his people first in every aspect of his life.
Today, Eto’o is one of the richest African footballers
and he is not hiding the fact that he is blessed financially
and materially.
Fortune has been his best friend since he moved out of Cameroon
to play professional football abroad, and to crown his growing
achievement in life, he has decided to give to people from
his riches.
Recently, he bought 40 new Toyota brand of cars for his friends
to operate as taxis in Cameroon, and he monitors how they
are doing.
"Yes, I’ve bought a lot of cars for my friends
in Cameroon", he said. "I wanted to keep it quiet
but sometimes my friends say a bit more than they should.
I don’t want to talk about it. What I will say is that
I’m as close to these people as I am to my family",
he was quoted by the latest fourfourtwo magazine.
The Barcelona star is a man of the people. They all love him
for bringing joy to many homes through football and he always
tried his best to justify the fans support whenever he plays
for Indomitable Lions.
He gives so much to people around. Financially, he is always
there for them and materially, he has never disappointed any.
He was caught handing bank notes to impoverish locals when
he came home recently.
"If I can give something back to the people I will",
he says. "I’m in a fortunate position and I don’t
abuse that. I know my responsibility".
"Eto’o is the leader of a new generation of top
African footballers", according to Thomas N’Kono,
the former Cameroon goalkeeper, who is a close friend of the
Barca star. "He has had a great ambition since he was
very young and now we are seeing the results. "What impresses
me most about him, apart from his good heart and humility,
is his tranquillity in front of the rival goalkeepers. Nothing
scares or worries him."
Before the last African Cup of Nations, Eto’o had already
represented his country 55 times, scoring 15 goals. After
it, he returned to Barca with strong hope that more glory
is heading the club’s way.
"We want to win everything this season – the league
and the Champions League", he said. "We are good
enough, but part of football is that we know it’s not
always possible to win everything. Still, we’re stronger
than a year ago when Lionel Messi wasn’t around. Messi
is the new idol for tomorrow everyone is fond of him. One
day, he would be the No 1 player in the world".
"Barca are one of the biggest clubs in the world, if
not the biggest, but have only won the European Cup once.
This is a good squad, but Barca have had great squads in the
past and not won the competition. You can be the best and
have bad luck. But Chelsea had the luck last season, now it’s
our turn", he said.
On Cameroon’s failure to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World
Cup finals, he said it’s unfortunate that Lions won’t
go to Germany for the first time in 20 years.
Out of sorts throughout qualifying, a 1–1 draw with
Egypt in their final game sealed Cameroon’s fate. Pierre
Wome missed an injury-time penalty that would have sent them
to Germany, but it was Eto’o’s supposed reluctance
to take it that made headlines.
"Wome was asked to take it", he said, clearly irked
at accusations that he didn’t have the nerve. "It
was a pity because it would have been something special, important
and beautiful for me and all my country if Cameroon could
have qualified to join the best nations at the World Cup.
"Life is like that sometimes – it can deal you
a surprise bad hand – but I also believe that you can
and must learn from your errors and sometimes when you emerge
from something bad in your life, you come out much stronger
and more determined. I hope that I, my team mates and our
country will come out stronger and better from this bitter
experience".
He, however, predicted good outing for the five African teams
to the World Cup. "As an African, I think the five teams
will at least reach the quarter-finals and could easily take
advantage of being seen as underdogs. If one of them reaches
a position to win the World Cup, then I ‘d wish them
all the luck in the world, that they handle it well and that
they have no injury problems."
Of the five, he thinks Cote dI’voire should be the strongest
challengers. "After Cameroon, they are the best team
in Africa. Look at the players they possess and where they
are playing; people like Didier Drogba will be very successful
in the World Cup.
"As for the other teams? I’ve played against Togo.
You don’t need to know the players, but how they play.
They think they will surprise people, the same for Angola.
Ghana, with Michael Essien and Stephen Appiah, are a very
strong team who could do something important. Maybe they need
a playmaker though", he added.
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