Eto’o Advises Footballer Son to Choose Patriotism to Cameroon Before France, Spain and Others

Former Indomitable Lions captain, Samuel Eto’o Fils, says he has given his footballer son, Etienne Eto’o, firm instructions not to choose to play for any other country than Cameroon at international level.

Eto’o made the disclosure recently during a lengthy interview to pan African television channel, Vox Africa.

While admitting his young son was a good footballer, Eto’o stated that he has advised him not to fall into the temptation of opting to play for another country like France or Spain as is currently the case with some young Cameroonian football talents.

Samuel Umtiti and Breel Embolo, for instance, are talented footballers of Cameroonian parentage who have chosen to play for France and Switzerland respectively. Both players featured for their respective countries at the European championships in France in June and July, after defying calls from football authorities to represent Cameroon at international level.

But Eto’o, who had over 100 caps for the Indomitable Lions, thinks his son must not copy the trend. 

“He is a good player, he can play for PSG, Barcelona or wherever; but I have told him: ‘you must play for Cameroon. You can do what you want, but do not choose to play for any other nationality. If you want to make papa happy, make sure you play for Cameroon. That’s all…” said Eto’o on Vox Africa.

“Luckily for him, he has a father who served this great national team of Cameroon for 16 to 17 years… it’s good that from time to time, he goes home and show love for the country with an open heart like his father did…however, as a father, I can only give advice, he is the one to have the final say” added Eto’o, four time African footballer of the year.

During the interview, Eto’o also used the opportunity to offer a word of apology to Prime Minister Philemon Yang for refusing to collect the flag from the head of government prior to the Indomitable Lions’ departure for the 2014 FIFA world cup in Brazil which turned out to be a fiasco for the team.

“There is someone who has been deeply offended, which is His Excellency, the Prime Minister, to whom I apologize here because I did something that I regret.”

The three time UEFA champions’ league winner also answered questions from his interviewer on several interesting issues including the suspension of activities in his Fundesport football training academy, his future with regards to the Indomitable Lions as well as his relationship with football great, Roger Milla.