CNN was with football legend Samuel Eto'o on his last visit to his hometown in February, before the coronavirus pandemic forced countries around the world to shut up. Many New Bell residents took to the streets as rumors spread that the international superstar had returned home. A woman, dressed only in a towel, can't wait to get out of the shower to greet him - not wanting to miss her chance.
"People go out massively because I bring a feeling of happiness, of hope," said Eto'o, through a translator. "I hope Almighty God always allows me to share this feeling with them."
Songs of the name Eto'o began to resonate in the streets and although large crowds began to form, everyone respectfully gave him their space. At one point, they even formed a human chain to allow Eto'o to cross the blocks and visit some of his relatives.
"I grew up in the hands of people you have seen," he said. "Some are my paternal uncles, and others are neighborhood elders who took care of me as a teenager; who advised me because they felt I had something and that I could get out."
He then highlighted a landmark for which his hometown is unfortunately known. "If we go a little further, we will see that the central prison is nearby. It seemed more likely that I would end up in this prison."
A legacy beyond football
Samuel Eto'o avoided prison. Instead, at the age of 16, he went to Europe to start what would become a long and successful international football career spanning more than two decades. He has won the African Player of the Year award four times and helped Cameroon win its very first gold medal at the 2000 Olympics.
The man who teamed up with other greats like Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho in Barcelona has become famous for his playing on the field, but here in Cameroon he is considered for more than his sporting prowess.
The next morning, on a foggy soccer field in Douala, Eto'o stood on the sidelines and watched a group of young players at work. He couldn't help but pull one from the side. "I explained how he should position himself when he plays," said Eto'o. "How he can have the advantage over his opponent with the right body position."
Here at Kadji Sports Academy, the same academy that Eto'o attended, players are fortunate enough to receive advice from their local hero. But Eto'o does more than just offer mentorship. Thanks to the foundation he created in 2006, Eto'o also funded the development and training of many promising young footballers from Cameroon.
"We tried to create dreams," said Eto'o, naming a number of former academy players who are now playing for European teams.
Tchokote Gassi Christian hopes to join this list. He is one of the aspiring professional footballers to receive funding from the foundation. "I was not born into a wealthy family, so it was often difficult to come back from training and find a meal ready to help me recover ... I no longer have this problem." Said Christian. "In some countries, they are not fortunate enough to have someone like Papa Samuel who helps young people to achieve their dreams."
"The best goal we have scored"
Later that day, Eto'o made another stop. In a small room, he was sitting next to a new mother and holding her tiny baby. The premature baby was cared for in a location that is one of Eto'o's proudest achievements. With a smile on his face, Eto'o said, "I think the best goal we scored with the foundation was the Samuel Eto'o Pavilion at Lacquintinie Hospital."
It is a 48-bed children's service in the largest public hospital in Douala, which was built and fully equipped by its foundation in 2017.
Children and babies can get much needed emergency and specialized care. As is the case in much of sub-Saharan Africa, Cameroonian children under the age of five die at a rate almost double the world average, according to data from the World Bank.
"I think that's the goal of my life," said Eto'o. "Contribute to the development of our society by helping the State and Cameroonians to have a building where people can come and say 'here we can go home in good health'".
In addition to the hospital and training academy, the Eto Foundation has funded and created projects to support education, health and community development, including orphanages, scholarships and road construction.
"Our story must be written by us and through us," said Eto'o. "Don't wait for others to come and do what we can do instead."
Working to fight Covid-19
A few months later, in April, information surfaced that French doctors had offered to test a possible Covid-19 treatment in Africa. Samuel Eto'o, who spoke openly about racism in football, was one of the many well-known Africans who condemned the thought, calling the comments "colonialism" and expressing frustration on social media.
Although confined to his home in Paris during the pandemic, he deployed his foundation to deliver "Stop Covid-19" kits containing masks, soap, rice, water and other items for help Cameroonians stay at home and stay disinfected.
According to the director of the foundation Patrick Mbiele Happi, kits have been delivered to 50,000 families in the four most affected cities - including Douala, the birthplace of Eto'o. The foundation also distributed 22,000 washable masks to motorcycle and taxi drivers, according to Happi.
While the world was a different place when Eto'o was back in Cameroon, he always spoke of facing head-on adversity in his country. "I like challenges and I especially like success," said the football legend. "So the motivation for me is: I'm finished here, what should I do tomorrow? What should I do? There is a new challenge, so I am completely."
Andrea Smith and Briana Duggan contributed to this story.
