SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Camaroon's World Cup footbal team arrive in Durban

Record ID: 455068

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Camaroon's World Cup footbal team arrive in Durban
  • Date: 10th June 2010
  • Summary: CAMEROON FANS AT AIRPORT
  • Embargoed: 25th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA2IJMVNOJS55J0E2KRQMODEHQ1
  • Story Text: Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o arrived in South Africa on Wednesday (June 9) but kept his counsel when mobbed by reporters, giving only a thumbs up and a smile.
    Eto'o threatened last month to miss the World Cup after his commitment to the Indomitable Lions was questioned by 1990 World Cup scorer Roger Milla.
    Any doubts were banished when the three times Africa Player of the Year descended from the plane at Durban's King Shaka airport for the start of his third World Cup campaign.
    Despite Milla's comments, Eto'o played against Portugal last week, only to be dismissed for dangerous play.
    Asked about the squad's morale after a troubled fortnight, however, the 29-year-old only gave a thumbs up and smiled, leaving coach Paul Le Guen to do the talking.
    "We had a good preparation and we are optimistic," the Frenchman told Reuters.
    "We have pressure but it's not a surprise for me. It's normal. We have good players, we have a good team, I am hopeful."
    Cameroon, the first African side to reach the World Cup quarter-finals in 1990, are one of Africa's best hopes of winning the first World Cup played on the world's poorest continent.
    They face Japan in their opening Group E World Cup match next Monday (June 14) and then play Denmark and the Netherlands.
    While Le Guen reflected the bookmakers' caution about the team's chances, their fans were in more confident mood.
    "This team, this team, Number One!" shouted one fan, another adding: "It's the first time it's in Africa and we are confident this Cup is going to stay in Africa, and in Cameroon."
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register