Eto'o launches mobile network

Cameroon - Samuel Eto’o has launched his own mobile phone network, Set’Mobile in Cameroon. The company that was recently registered in the country was launched on Thursday in the economic capital Douala.
Set’Mobile becomes the third mobile network after Orange and MTN.
The Mobile network was launched in the presence of the Indomitable Lions captain. Set’Mobile, which bears the initials of the player’s name, Samuel Eto’o, hopes to be a major Player in the mobile telecom sector.
The ceremony pulled a cross-section of business personalities and regulators, also attracted fans.
It also hopes to impact on the socio-economic development of the country.
With a capital base of 100 million CFA, the company has a general manager and associate partner Charles Gueret, who hopes to make the company very accessible to the population and make an impact in the market.
The general manager said Set’Mobile will drop the cost of calls, while offering services such as calls, sms and internet.
It would be recalled that before launching his own network, Eto’o had been the ambassador of one of the mobile operators, Orange.
It is believed that considering the player’s popularity in the country, Set’Mobile will pull customers to itself especially youths.

Cameroon pay Algeria $500,000 after players' strike

Algeria have received $500,000 in compensation after the Samuel Eto'o-led Cameroon players' strike which forced the cancellation of a friendly between the two countries.
The payment, confirmed on Friday by the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), comes in the same week that Eto'o was handed a 15-match international ban for his role as ringleader in the action.
Cameroon were due to wrap up a hectic friendlies schedule against Algeria on November 15.
But Eto'o and his team-mates claimed they were not paid money due to them by FECAFOOT and the fixture had to be scrapped, with Algeria initially claiming $1 million compensation for lost revenue.

Cameroon's Eto'o targets Russia 2018 World Cup role

Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o has told the BBC he wants to continue his international career long enough to reach the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Eto'o plays his club football in Russia following a multi-million dollar move from Inter Milan to Anzhi Makhachkala.
"It would be a dream to play a part in this tournament," Eto'o said, even though he will be 37 years old by then.
"If I am unable to help my country win then my dream would be to see another African nation win it."
The 2010 African footballer of the year was unable to help the Indomitable Lions qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations but says he has settled into life with his Russian club.
"I'm very comfortable and happy in my life. I'm trying to help my teammates improve, I'm scoring goals - I couldn't ask God for more," he said.
And he revealed that he still has ambitions to achieve success on the European stage with Anzhi, despite widespread doubts about the quality of his new side.
"My dream would be to win the Russian championship with Aznhi and to return to the European Champions League."
He insisted that the quality of football in Russia was improving all the time.
"There are some really good players in Russia, they have some beautiful stadiums and there are players in this league who we will certainly soon calling stars.
There are also some great managers - [Russia has] everything it needs to become just like the English, Italian or even the Spanish league."
Eto'o is a candidate for this year's African footballer of the year award as well and scored on Friday night as Cameroon beat Sudan 3-1 in an international friendly.

Fans protest Eto’o’s ban

Local football fans have taken to the streets to protest the ban on national team captain, Samuel Eto’o.
Irate fans moved from Mutengene to Tiko (20kms distance) two towns in the Southwest Region of Cameroon.
They marched in the streets demanding that the fifteen-match ban on the four-time African Player of the Year be reversed.
Meantime, SuperSport.com learnt that fans in the capital city Yaoundé and Douala may be spoiling for protest if nothing is done to lift the sanction.
Much anger has been shown in the Eto’o sanction considering that football is the one thing Cameroonians are passionate about. Locals also hold Eto’o very dear and follow him in his exploits from one club to another.
It is apparently against this background of anger and anticipated riots that newly sports and physical education minister, Adoum Garoua issued a press release on Tuesday morning calling for calm. He said government was studying the matter and a solution would be sought.
It is likely that the Minister will exploit the provision of the Fecafoot rules and regulations stipulating that the president of the federation or the sports minister can overturn any decision of the disciplinary committee.
Eto'o's communication outfit has prepared a live TV broadcast tonight where he is supposed to spill the beans.

Ex-Lions back Eto'o

The dust on the suspension of Indomitable Lions captain Samuel Eto’o is yet to settle. The infamous decision of the disciplinary committee of the Cameroon football federation has continued to receive widespread disapproval, especially from former players of the national team.
Some ex-Lions players have been reacting variously in the issue, which has become national concern. Member of the 1990 glorious squad , Thomas Libih was the first to call for solidarity among players following the committee’s verdict. Also, Michel Kaham, former Cameroon right back at the 1982 Fifa World Cup and first African to attend World Cup tournament as coach and pl ayer (he was deputy coach in 1990) and now general manager of the Kadji Sports academy(the centre that discovered Eto'o,Nkoulou,Mbia,Kameni,Mandjeck,Makoun etc...) described the decision as a cataclysm, and that it is incomprehensible and disproportionate.
According to him, every country has something of value which it takes pride in and that of Cameroon is football. He said a megastar like Samuel Eto’o, the only Cameroonian player who can rival the best in the world should be protected. “I was stupefied because this decision puts an end to the professional career of Eto’o,” says Jean Paul Akono.
The former Lion and former coach of the 2000 Gold medalist Olympic team said he was saddened by the decision and that Eto’o is an icon who is respected the world over.
On his part, the critical Joseph Antoine Bell, former captain of the national team, said the two captains, Eto’o and his deputy, Eyong Enoh, should not have been punished as individuals because they were acting as players representatives. Bell argues that the players were reacting to a situation and nobody seems to go to the root of the problem. These reactions resonate with those of ordinary fans who are yet to come to terms with verdict.
The President of the African Athletic Federation, the Cameroonian born Kalkaba Malboum who is incidentally the chairman of the Local Olympic Committee also raised his voice on the matter,calling the decision an ureasonable one and asking Fecafoot to apply wisdom and discernment in the sanctions to preserve the carriers of the three players involved.

Eto’o ban doesn't make sense - Bell

Former Cameroon international, consultant, Joseph Bell Antoine, has described the 15-match ban on captain Samuel Eto’o Fils as ‘rubbish’.
The former goalkeeper told SuperSport.com that he lacks words to describe such an action.
On Saturday, Eto’o was handed a 15-match sanction by the disciplinary and homologation committee of Cameroon football federation, Fecafoot, for his role in the players strike.
To the federation, Eto’o instigated the players to go on strike in violation of internal regulations of the national team relating to loyalty and obligation of participating in a match.
According to Bell, “Nothing justifies this sanction”.
Bell regrets that while Cameroon football is already in the doldrums, the decision further sinks the nation's game into an abyss.
The decision, which implies chasing Eto’o from the national team, cannot contribute anything good to Cameroon and football in particular, he regretted.

Samuel Eto'o donates USD 50.000 to ?Kandengue Habilidoso? association

Samuel Eto’o, currently playing for Anzhi of Russia, announced on Tuesday in Luanda the donation of USD 50.000 to the Angolan former captain Fabrice Akwá, to support “Kandengue Habilidoso” association, in the materialisation of its goals for children.

The donation act, which happened in one of the hotels in Luanda, Samuel Eto’o recognised Akwá’s project, aimed for supporting and social integration of Angolan children and he intends to contribute to the reduction of some difficulties of the beneficiaries and encourage the promoter of the initiative.

On his turn, Akwa thanked the gesture, underlining that the such offer will enable its association to be more determined in working on the social and sport integration project in various regions of Angola.

Samuel Eto’o will participate in a fundraising football match on Wednesday and he will lay the foundation stone for the construction the facilities of “Kandengue Habilidoso” association in Cacuaco district.

The donation act was attended by the Defence Vice-minister, Agostinho Nelumba “Sanjar”, president of the Angolan Football Federation (FAF), Pedro Neto and the national coach, Lito Vidigal.