Cameroon: Mixed Reactions as Samuel Eto’o allegedly signs ambassadorial deal with renowned betting company

By Amina Hilda

Some Cameroonians have expressed mixed reactions following a recent ambassadorial deal, allegedly signed by the president of the Cameroon Football Federation Samuel Eto’o with a renowned betting company.

The ambassadorial deal was made public on CFoot’s official Facebook page, a renowned Cameroonian Football platform.

To some, signing a contract with such a company is baseless and not to be applauded. Meanwhile, others are of the opinion that the president has every right to engage in such a deal.

Wally Walters a Facebook user, feels the deal is a disgrace to his personality. He wrote: “Many footballers look up to him as a mentor to achieve great success in a dignified way but he chooses to put the image of FECAFOOT into mud.”

“What image of the country are people trying to sell the world? Coach and president both encouraging the youths in gambling instead of fighting against such practices in the country and especially in your domain as FECAFOOT president,” Walters went on.

Kemit Kabod, supporting the action noted that: “It would have been great for him to be a sponsor of a school, but business first.”

Meanwhile, on the other hand, some users seemed to see nothing wrong with the said deal. “He does what he wants as long as it’s not against the law,” said Valary Konde, another Facebook user.

Christian Bakaba on his part synthesized the whole issue by stating that if the contract will have positive repercussions for Cameroonian football, then it’s a good thing, ” but if this is not the case, I don’t see what it will interest us,” he said.

Many have however opposed the promotion of betting especially among youths who aspire to become great leaders in the future.