Afronline – The Voice Of Africa

The kids of New-Bell, the Douala neighbourhood where Samuel Eto’o (in the picture) grew up, dream of one day becoming professional football players like their idol. Their parents don’t want this passion to distract them from their studies.

At 18, Moussa Ngbeweng, balances to going to school and playing football. He started out playing defence but has since switched to playing forward to follow in the footsteps of his idol, Eto’o.

“My dream is to play like him. My parents are very encouraging but they expect me to continue with my studies,” he said. To help him realise his dream his parents have enrolled him in a football training program which he attends Wednesday nights and Saturdays when he is not at school. Moussa has already played in several minors and juniors tournaments outside of Cameroon but he agrees that it is important that he is educated and that he has a diploma.  “I declined an opportunity to play in the super D2 league because it would have meant giving up my studies,” said Moussa.

Like him most of the kids of the neighbourhood dream about one day playing professional football and about earning lots of money.

But they haven’t forgotten the importance of an education, even though some attend school with some reluctance. “I go to make my parents happy. School might help me one day but my dream is to be like Eto’o and to have the means to help out all of the people in my neighbourhood,” says Franck, a student in CM2 and a member at the football training centre in the region.

“I get good grades but my mind is on football. I can only play football though if I go to school and get good grades,” said Bekamenga. He’s a kid from the neighbourhood and a member of Fundesport, a sports foundation that was created by Samuel Eto’o. He has already gone to several tournaments in Europe and in Africa but he only practices on Wednesdays and on holidays.

There is only one Eto’o

These kids know full well that they won’t all become professional football players. Junior is 17 and a student in his first year of studies to become an accountant. “This way I will be able to make a living for myself and take care of my family. If football becomes my path, well then I will be an intellectual and a footballer. My education might help me when I retire from sports,” he says.

Slowly but surely kids are starting to get the message and to understand the importance of an education. “I always tell my children and the others in this neighbourhood that school should come first. Later if they get the chance to play professional football they will at least be able to express themselves and stand up for their rights,” says 72 year old Pondo Alfred who introduces himself as one of Samuel Eto’o maternal uncles.

Papa Jean, another relative, makes the same case for education. “Earning a degree and mastering a job are the two most important aspects of a man’s life. If a child dedicates himself slowly to football but doesn’t make it to the professionals or is injured and has to stop playing, what can he do if he doesn’t have an education?” asks Jean. For him, Eto’o is a genius and geniuses don’t come along every day.

The star hammers the same message home when he visits his old neighbourhood. “ Every time he visits he reminds the kids that not everyone can become a footballer and that not all footballers can have the same success that he did. He urges them to focus on their studies and to try out other activities other then football,” says Diallo, a local member of government in the region. Actions speak louder than words and every year Eto’o funds scholarships and sends supplies to the students in the area.

By Charles Nforgang – Syfia