The Cameroonian prolific goal-scoring striker has ended his stay in Russia, where he had been playing for Anzhi Makhachkala, a premier league club, since the 23rd of August 2011, and which made him the world’s most expensive player (earning €20 million per year). His commitment for Chelsea FC is like a resurrection of his football career, for two reasons.
On the one hand, before going to Russia, the man had fulfilled almost all the dreams that could be fostered by every young African inclined to the king-sport: he won three European Champions League cups for two clubs (a couple for Barcelona FC, in 2006 and 2009; and one for Inter Milan in 2010); he led Cameroon, his country, to two crowns of the African Cup of Nations (in 2000 and 2002); he is the only footballer holding four African Player of the Year awards (2003, 2004, 2005 and 2010); he is the leading goal-scorer throughout the history of the final of the African Cup of Nations (overall 18 goals); he won the Olympic Gold Medal with Cameroon at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and was ranked the 3rd FIFA World Player of the Year in 2005; and he thrice represented Cameroon in the FIFA World Cup final (in 1998, 2002, and 2010). Therefore, the fact that he had left Inter Milan for Anzhi Makhachkala, a club belonging to a league still longing for international prestige, was deemed by many observers as the beginning of the end of his career.
On the other hand, has been revived with his integration into Chelsea. Not only Eto’o is poised to bounce back in this west-London outfit, which since 2004 has been catapulted into the category of the world’s giant football associations thanks to José Mourinho’s masterful management, but also he is lucky to evolve under the “special” Portuguese coach, who led him to the firmament of the European Cup glory with Inter Milan in 2010.
This resurrection of his career explains the ease wherewith the Cameroonian superstar announced his retirement from international football, following the hard time he reportedly had been enduring for a while by the Cameroon federation’s leading collective. Nonetheless, there are two dreams he has fulfilled: breaking the record of the best goal-scorer in a single final of the African Cup of Nations (which has been hitherto held by Ndaye Mulamba, the former DR Congo international, since 1974, who scored 9 goals), and lifting a FIFA World Cup for Cameroon. He has got the opportunity to positively address those challenges.
Despite his unfortunate debut in Chelsea FC (he conceded two successive defeats: to Everton in the English Premier League last weekend, and to Switzerland’s Basel FC in the Champions League on Wednesday, September 18, 2013), the man promises to bounce back: the great Mourinho—the ‘happy one’, as he likes to be called now—has confidence in him, and he enjoys the company of outstanding midfielders, such as Frank Lampard, Hazard and Juan Mata, who can offer him opportunities to score. He only needs a short time to gel in the exceptionally competitive English elite championship. As Tendai Makaripe wrote, “Eto’o possesses pace, power, aggression and ruthlessness in front of goal that has helped ensure a trophy-laden career. His tenacity and skill have made him one of this generation’s finest strikers… [He] has the strength, flair, creativity and is passionate about football. He is probably the best African footballer ever” (“Africa’s finest footballer”, in The Southern Times, Sunday, 28 April 2013, p.47). Go on, Eto’o, the world still needs you.
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