Samuel Eto’o’s day in Kampala
Jun 27, 2008
Samuel Eto’o Fils, the Cameroonian and Barcelona FC star winger spent a day in Kampala on Tuesday. The star, who won the coveted African Player of the year awards for a record three consecutive times, was here to launch Omo’s 10/10 soccer schools for life programme. We tailed him all day and we
By Lydia Namubiru
Samuel Eto’o Fils, the Cameroonian and Barcelona FC star winger spent a day in Kampala on Tuesday. The star, who won the coveted African Player of the year awards for a record three consecutive times, was here to launch Omo’s 10/10 soccer schools for life programme. We tailed him all day and we can now fill you in.
On arrival at Serena Hotel on Tuesday morning, he was met by Ugandan journalists flashing cameras to catch every step he made. They scampered into the hotel to take pictures of him taking the lift. Like crazy paparazzi, some ran for the stairs and actually beat the lift to the first floor to take pictures of him stepping out. You would have been forgiven for thinking that a super-being had come among men.
Eto’o is an extraordinarily talented footballer, with fame, money, a beautiful wife and adorable children. Cameramen in Europe and Africa hound him all the time. Sometimes in the past, Eto’o has behaved like all this stardom does get to his head. He has had violent run-ins with journalists in his home country. He refused to go onto the pitch as a substitute. There is speculation that Barcelona wants to off-load him together with Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi, because their egos have become bigger than the club. The club has not won any trophies for the last two consecutive seasons.
However, up close, Eto’s is anything but egoistical. Walking into a roomful of journalists at Serena Hotel that Tuesday, he might as well have been the boy next door. With a sky blue long- sleeved shirt hugging his broad shoulders and teamed with navy jeans, he walked into the Turaco room for the press conference. To every journalist who asked a question, he flashed the smile reserved for an acquainttance before answering.
Later that afternoon, the father of three took time off to teach Ugandan kids what he does best; play soccer. On the pitch at the KCC grounds in Lugogo, Eto’o completely let down his guard. While Eto’o donned a pair of brown shorts and was completely relaxed, the awe in the children’s eyes on seeing him was nearly solid enough to touch. He spent the better part of the afternoon with the 400 lucky kids, before retiring to his hotel room.
Official business done, Unilever the star’s hosts, treated him to a cocktail party in the Silk Lounge. In an escalade that looked like Bobi Wine’s, save that its number plate read Eto’o, the star hit the club. Eto’o sat at a reserved table in the corner and kept glued to the football match on the screen. That was before Mitch, the night’s MC, stormed the stage. Even Eto’o could not help laughing at Mitch’s humour as he took on a crowd that also turned out just as naughty. He laughed at the jokes a little later because the francophone Cameroonian had to hear it through an interpreter.
Soon, he was the actual manifestation of the boy next door again. Mitch asked the number of players on the pitch. One who passed it would get an autography from Eto’o. A man said it was 23 and most people agreed with him but Eto’o held that they are 25, arguing that even the two touchline officials are players. Nevertheless he agreed to sign the autograph.
Do you get the feeling that Eto’o is naughty? You should have seen him throw his head back in belly-jerking laughter as he watched a man who was scandalised when one of the obsessions girls went gyrating before him. For the better part of the performance, Eto’o watched the guy, laughing his heart out.
Samuel Eto’o Fils, the Cameroonian and Barcelona FC star winger spent a day in Kampala on Tuesday. The star, who won the coveted African Player of the year awards for a record three consecutive times, was here to launch Omo’s 10/10 soccer schools for life programme. We tailed him all day and we can now fill you in.
On arrival at Serena Hotel on Tuesday morning, he was met by Ugandan journalists flashing cameras to catch every step he made. They scampered into the hotel to take pictures of him taking the lift. Like crazy paparazzi, some ran for the stairs and actually beat the lift to the first floor to take pictures of him stepping out. You would have been forgiven for thinking that a super-being had come among men.
Eto’o is an extraordinarily talented footballer, with fame, money, a beautiful wife and adorable children. Cameramen in Europe and Africa hound him all the time. Sometimes in the past, Eto’o has behaved like all this stardom does get to his head. He has had violent run-ins with journalists in his home country. He refused to go onto the pitch as a substitute. There is speculation that Barcelona wants to off-load him together with Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi, because their egos have become bigger than the club. The club has not won any trophies for the last two consecutive seasons.
However, up close, Eto’s is anything but egoistical. Walking into a roomful of journalists at Serena Hotel that Tuesday, he might as well have been the boy next door. With a sky blue long- sleeved shirt hugging his broad shoulders and teamed with navy jeans, he walked into the Turaco room for the press conference. To every journalist who asked a question, he flashed the smile reserved for an acquainttance before answering.
Later that afternoon, the father of three took time off to teach Ugandan kids what he does best; play soccer. On the pitch at the KCC grounds in Lugogo, Eto’o completely let down his guard. While Eto’o donned a pair of brown shorts and was completely relaxed, the awe in the children’s eyes on seeing him was nearly solid enough to touch. He spent the better part of the afternoon with the 400 lucky kids, before retiring to his hotel room.
Official business done, Unilever the star’s hosts, treated him to a cocktail party in the Silk Lounge. In an escalade that looked like Bobi Wine’s, save that its number plate read Eto’o, the star hit the club. Eto’o sat at a reserved table in the corner and kept glued to the football match on the screen. That was before Mitch, the night’s MC, stormed the stage. Even Eto’o could not help laughing at Mitch’s humour as he took on a crowd that also turned out just as naughty. He laughed at the jokes a little later because the francophone Cameroonian had to hear it through an interpreter.
Soon, he was the actual manifestation of the boy next door again. Mitch asked the number of players on the pitch. One who passed it would get an autography from Eto’o. A man said it was 23 and most people agreed with him but Eto’o held that they are 25, arguing that even the two touchline officials are players. Nevertheless he agreed to sign the autograph.
Do you get the feeling that Eto’o is naughty? You should have seen him throw his head back in belly-jerking laughter as he watched a man who was scandalised when one of the obsessions girls went gyrating before him. For the better part of the performance, Eto’o watched the guy, laughing his heart out.