‘Samuel Eto'o is someone who [...],’ Junior Tchamadeu opens up about his admiration for the former Indomitable Lions striker

Eto'o inspires generations of young Cameroonian and African players.

And Junior Tchamadeu is no exception. The Cameroonian international and Stoke City right-back still remembers watching the former FC Barcelona striker's exploits as a child. ‘Samuel Eto'o is someone who, when I was little, my father would show me videos of him playing football, and everyone knows how important he is in our country,’ he said.

But that admiration became a reality a few years ago when Tchamadeu received an unexpected call from Samuel Eto'o. It was a memorable phone call that was followed by a face-to-face meeting. The 22-year-old Cameroonian describes it as an emotional encounter.

"My first real interaction with him was obviously when he called me for the first time, about three years ago, and I immediately recognised his voice on the phone. But meeting him in person was even more special. It was, as I said, totally surreal, because I grew up watching his videos. My father showed me all kinds of photos of him, and I saw him on television. So, things as simple as having his number and talking to him are completely surreal."