ETO'O'S CAMEROON CRASHES OUT OF WORLD CUP 2010, WITHOUT ANY WIN?

'Samuel Eto'o never did anything for Cameroon,' so said Roger Miller; and the ex-international may be right? As the fabled penny-pincher Inter Milan's player failed to lead his country men out of the preliminary playoffs of the World Cup 2010 in South Africa, Icheoku says, what a helluva of vindication and attestation for Roger Miller!

Icheoku somewhat agrees with Roger Miller that this World Cup in South Africa provided Samuel Eto'o with a golden opportunity to debunk the alleged, and make better his records for Cameroon, but he woefully failed to deliver as he blew it all up. Now the perception stays, since his legendary soccer prowess proved insufficient to keep his team in the competition. Cameroon is now the first flunk-out of South Africa World Cup 2010 competition. What becomes of Samuel Eto'o and his Cameroon uninspiring squad, that put up this worst performance ever recorded by any Cameroon world cup squad since 1992, when they arrive back to Yaounde is any-body's guess; except perhaps, as is most likely to happen, Samuel Eto'o will be missing in the arriving squad as he may jet back to Milan straight from Jo`burg.

Icheoku have nothing personally against Samuel Eto'o as we religiously follow his European soccer wizardry which have taken him through some of the most prestigious teams in Europe; including his present gig at Inter Milan. But we were taken aback when he stupidly and foolishly, made very expensive outrageous gifts of $43,000 wrist watches each to his co-players, now the first casualty of South Africa 2010. Icheoku had thought that Samuel Eto`o was sensible and sensitive enough to understand that wrist-watches are the least of the problems militating against an impoverished Cameroonian African country; and we wrote a piece on that. We were disappointed in his questionable choice of gifts, and now couldn't say whether or not we hate him. But one thing we are sure of, is that we strongly detest his arrogant choice of gifts which apparently transcended into his hopeless performance in South Africa 2010; but we hope we shall get over it.

Samuel Eto`o and his Cameroonian side should have done better, but they failed woefully! With series of chances begging for ordinary effort, severally in front of a yawning goal-post, the Cameroonian side could'nt convert any and once again blew if for the Africa continent; now they are the first nation to be ousted from the competition being held in mother Africa and for the very first time. With the defeat of Cameroon by the Danes, one African representative leaves the competition and within the next forty-eight hours, will be home-bound to their part of the African continent. Icheoku condemns this early exit of Cameroon and particularly, Samuel Eto'o's inability to successfully and gallantly lead his side into the battle of South Africa 2010; we also complain loudly about the incompetence of another foreign-mercenary coach, who failed and was unable to take Cameroon outside the preliminary rounds. Cameroon's record was so appalling as they couldn't win any match as they twice fell to both Japan and Denmark, two not so rated footballing countries; and despite scoring an early first goal opener against the group's usual cry-baby Denmark.

Icheoku says, if African countries cannot perform better in a competition being held in their backyard, their continent, then something surely must be wrong with them. It is either their internal politics segregates in football and encourages quota system based team-selection instead of proven record of ability; or they have a very poor football administration and management that has no footballing policy in place; or the individualism of the players which takes team-work out of the equation effects their over-all performance-ability; and finally, their over-reliance on foreign coaches, who but give passive effort to their coaching. These third rate coaches, who no club will touch in their respective countries, usually have no real allegiance to the country whose team they are coaching; and without a dog in the fight, can afford to be lackadaisical with their coaching as well as become complacent in effectively managing the players. And since their salaries and bonuses are most always paid and collected upfront, they lack the incentive to improve on their records and have nothing to lose in any case? It is pitiful indeed that the ever mighty Cameroon that once beat Maradona led Argentina in a world cup, just crashed out of the South Africa 2010 World Cup competition. So much for a tree, Samuel Eto`o, that was mistaken and misjudged for a forest; and Cameroon regrettably realizes now too late that a football squad is not called a team just for nothing. Arios amigo, bon voyage Cameroon, see you in Brazil but not with your under-performed egotistic Eto`o!