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16.02.2006
Eto`o on the Threshold of History
thisdayonline.com
Samuel Eto`o Fils, the Barcelona FC of Spain forward is on the threshhold of making history this evening by becoming the first player to win Africa`s highest honour in the game three consecutive times.
The Cameroonian, who only last week won the highest scorer prize of the just concluded African Cup of Nations with five goals in three matches, will have a special place in the Hall of Fame of past African Players of the Year winners. No player has ever won the honour three times. Not even the legendary Roger Milla who happens to be Eto`o`s childhood hero.
Only two players Abedi Pele Ayew and El-Haji Diouf came close to winning it three consecutive times but got punctured. After winning it in `91 and `92 Abedi could not muster the energy to also pick that of 1993.
Diouf on the other hand showed so much promise but could not surmount the jinx. The temperamental Senegalese has only 2002 and 2003 to show for his briliance of that era.
The award whose inaugural edition was won by Mali`s Salif Keita in 1970 is full of past and present players who have demonstrated that even in the midst of want, the continent have the talents to match-up to the rest of the world.
Eto`o`s magical rise to the top will not come to many Cameroonians as surprise because the Indomitable Lions have a rich culture of their players winning the honour. He is only going to join the likes of Roger Milla (`76 & `90), Thomas Nkono (`79 &`82), Theophile Abega (`84) and Patrick Mboma (2000). Winning it a record three times however, means that Eto`o has set another first in the CAF book, something that may stand the test of time.
When Eto`o won it first in 2003 not many eye brows were raised Winning the 2004 edition, however, drew barbs from most Nigerians who thought that Austin Jay Jay Okocha ought to have been considered ahead of the Cameroonian. Those who followed the 2004 Nations` Cup in Tunisia can attest that Okocha`s contribution to Nigeria`s bronze was far ahead of what Eto`o did for the Lions. But those who voted for the CAF top award thought otherwise.
Although Ivorien Didier Drogba and Micheal Essien of Ghana have also been listed in the top three, followers of the round leather game all over the world would be shocked beyond words if anything contrary to expectations happens.
Apart from displaying sublime skill that has charmed the world, the 25-year- old Barcelona forward, whose club president, Juan La Porta will be a guest at today`s show in Abuja, is head and shoulder above the other two nominees for both country and club.
Already, his selection as 2005 third best footballer in the world by FIFA attests to the pure gold that is Eto`o on the field of play.
Of course, no one can deny the fact that playing at Nou Camp along side great name like Brazilian Ronaldinho has greatly helped in honing Eto`o skills. He may have been banging in goals at Mallorca, Barcelona definitely gave him the cutting edge of his present form.
Eto`o debuted for the Lions at the Nations` Cup Nigeria co -hosted with Ghana. He could not perform at Mali 2002 due to injury but returned for Tunisia 2004. The quarter final elimination of Cameroon by the Super Eagles ensured that he returned to Spain early.
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Samuel Eto`o Fils, the Barcelona FC of Spain forward is on the threshhold of making history this evening by becoming the first player to win Africa`s highest honour in the game three consecutive......
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