By Franckline Benjika W
Samuel Eto'o Fils, three-time African soccer player of the year, has accused
former Indomitable Lions players of being the crux of the impasse that rocks the National Football Team.
The 27-year old made this declaration recently while trying to clear the air following his physical and disgraceful assault on a journalist. Without mentioning names, the second highest goal scorer, after Raul Gonzalez in the history of the Spanish La Liga, said that former players of the National Team are not happy to see the younger generation excelling. This was in a live TV programme hosted by veteran CRTV journalist, Charles Ndongo, who estimated that the assaulted journalist, Philippe Bonney's version of the story was not important since Samuel Eto'o was already issuing a public apology.
Eto'o's open accusation must have been triggered by a declaration made by former Indomitable Lion's striker, Parick Mboma, after the African Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifier between Cameroon and Cape Verd. Reacting to the confrontation between players and journalists shortly before the match, Patrick Mboma indicated that their generation had a harmonious relation with the media. He also added that they were more disciplined.
Another former Indomitable Lion, Joseph Antoine Bell, speaking over a private TV channel said Eto'o's accusation does not make him feel guilty in any way since he is not part of the management of the national team. He, however, warned that such a declaration is another gaffe committed by Eto'o. Eto'o buttressed his claim by revealing that during the 2008 African Cup of Nations tournament in Ghana, a former player of the National team told him that Idrissou should not figure on the lined up. Eto'o said such interference from former players is at the centre of the series of defeats the present generation of Indomitable Lions have been facing in the past years. Eto'o equally said the former player also intimated that he was the one drawing the line up in Ghana, as many people believed.
After the May 31 incident, local and international journalists sympathised with Philippe Bonney who was head-butted by Samuel Eto'o. Headlines alone could possibly have had Eto'o docked. The brawl was, however, settled amicably. Eto'o sought solace in the former Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Philippe Mbarga Mboa, who brokered peace talks between Bonney and Eto'o. Bonney told Eto'o that his apology was not enough, implying that Eto'o had offended journalists across the world. The Barcelona striker also offered to foot the medical bills of the radio reporter. After gauging the reaction of Lions' supporters in Yaounde, there is no doubt that Eto'o has lost a lot of popularity.
It is high time he understood that there is more to life than the success the world and material things offer. He has been spending much money of late to appease people he offends regularly.
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