Eto’o lauds Doc as SA’s best, offers tips on five-a-side game
Legend will take winners to Russia
Arguably Africa’s greatest player, Samuel Eto’o yesterday seemed to reopen a long-raging debate regarding who may be South Africa’s greatest footballer of all time.
The Cameroon legend named Doctor Khumalo as the best player he’s seen in SA, in a comment that’s sure to set tongues wagging long after Eto’o has departed the country following his attendance of the launch of the Castle Africa Five series.
“It’s been nice to be in this country and see some of the legends I played against when I was with Cameroon,” said French-speaking Eto’o, via an interpreter, at yesterday’s launch in Illovo.
“But even though I never played against him, I liked Doctor Khumalo a lot. He was the best player in SA.”
Khumalo retired in 2004, just as Eto’o was approaching his prime with Cameroon, but the skills of the ex-Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana maestro clearly left a lasting impression on the then youngster.
Having played with superstars throughout his illustrious journey, which included successful spells at Barcelona and Inter Milan, Eto’o, now 36, is winding down his career at Turkish side Antalyaspor, whom he captains.
He was greeted by loud applause as he made his entrance at yesterday’s launch, where his wife, Georgette, was also in the audience.
A veteran of three World Cups, Eto’o will accompany the winners of the Castle Fives – a five-a-side regional competition which will also be launched in Lesotho, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Tanzania – to the World Cup in Russia in June.
“The purpose of becoming an ambassador here is for me to share my vision around the game,” he said.
“I’m part of this campaign to encourage young people and it’s exciting. Sure I will show them around when we are in Russia, which is a nice country.”
Whoever wins the series could not have asked for a better, more celebrated tour guide, with Eto’o having played for Anzhi Makhachkala for two years after leaving Inter Milan in 2011.
Teams will be required to register for the playoffs in their countries. Country winners will be flown out to Lusaka, Zambia for the finals next month.
Eto’o offered his word of advice on playing the five-a-side version.
“You have to be strong because it’s different from 11 v 11. You don’t get any rest. You have five people running around and if one takes a break, you concede. It’s more technical, very challenging,” said Eto’o, who named Víctor Valdés, the former Barca and Spain goalkeeper, as his “best friend in football”.
‘ ‘ I liked Doctor Khumalo a lot. He was the best player in South Africa