At a recent press conference organised by Voodoo Communications at the Meridian Hotel in the economic capital of Cameroon, Douala, before jetting off to Milan, Eto’o said the national team has been plagued with a series of problems and greatly needs change. “Instead of facing the realties and seeking solutions to these problems, soccer authorities are shying away from their responsibilities,” Eto’o told the press.

He stated that the authorities have made him the sacrificial lamb, by putting all the problems of the national team on his head. “The truth is that, as a patriot, Eto’o is not, and will never be the problem of the national team,” he said.

According to Eto’o the national team is greatly in need of change and people need to take their responsibilities and do what they are supposed to do. He said what is needed is proper and concrete action and not mere speeches. “As long as the authorities concerned fail to take up their responsibilities, the problems will remain,” the Inter scorer argued, calling on the authorities to seek the right solutions.

The Lions captain said he also wants to see justice reign in the national team and until that is done, he will not relent in his efforts. “Those persons taking me for their sacrificial lamb can shamelessly continue their smear campaign against me. I am a patriotic Cameroonian. I will never betray my country, even if today I am told not to play for the national team,” he thundered.

On what the specific problems are, in the Lions’ den he replied; I stand by the principle of not washing dirty linens in public,” adding that during meetings within the circles of the national team, officials of the Sports Ministry and Cameroon football governing body - FECAFOOT, he is very blunt in speaking out his mind on what he thinks is not going on well.

He expressed misgivings that promises are made by the football administrators and at the end, very little or nothing is done.

Eto’o mentioned parochial interests as one of the main problems facing the team. “Many officials, who are supposed to be working for the interest of the team, have instead been working for their selfish interests.”

He expressed bitterness that some individuals are not focused on their job, rather they go to the public and soil his image with all sorts of fabricated tales. “Since I became the captain of the national team, I have been used as a sacrificial lamb for all the failures of the team, by the same people who are responsible for the problems plaguing the team,” he said

Poor preparation for matches

The 30-year-old forward said football supervisors are not supposed to be told that a team prepares for a match in advance and not on the day of the match. “Match preparation is not only about inviting players for training, but to put things in order and on time,” he noted.

He expressed regrets that at the national team, it is at the last minute that football authorities start running left and right; as if they did not know the date of the match and, as a result, more disorder than order is created.

He said many officials behave as if they either do not know what to do or do not like to do what is supposed to be done. The Inter Milan striker cited the case of an invitation, supposedly, for a friendly against Salvador three days after the game had been cancelled.

“The date on the invitation showed that it was issued after the friendly match had been cancelled,” Eto’o mentioned.

Summoned to face disciplinary committee

The four-time African Footballer of the Year also questioned the decision by FECAFOOT, some weeks ago, to summon him to face a disciplinary committee.

He said, from the look of things, those who took the “unjust decision” to summon him either did so because they did not do their work well, or the people just wanted to raise their egos by showing that “Eto’o too can be summoned by the disciplinary committee.” He described the summons as part of the smear campaign on his image.

Eto’o said he will never abandon the national team and that as long as he is invited, he will continue to come, until the day he will be told to stop playing for the team.

African Nations Cup/World Cup

The Lions forward regretted the mediocre show of the Indomitable Lions at the 2010 AFCON in Angola and World Cup in South Africa but, declared that the truth has not been told to Cameroonians on what went wrong, reiterating that the truth has been hidden by those responsible for the poor outings at the World Cup.

Eto’o challenged Cameroonian journalists to do their investigations properly and tell Cameroonians the truth as to what went wrong at the 2010 World Cup, but declined any request(s) to serve as a source.

He said Cameroonians need to be told the truth, including issues about match bonuses and other financial issues that were shrouded in controversies.

He expressed disappointment that, after the World Cup, Cameroonian sports journalists did not carry out proper investigations that could have enabled them give the right information to the public. He said many resorted to the easy way of writing stories based on rumours, or allowing themselves to be manipulated into shifting culpability on to innocent people.

Eto’o disclosed that he was recently received by President Paul Biya but did not elucidate on the theme of their discussion.

Russia or England next season

Indomitable Lions skipper, said he will either play for Russian elite club side, Anzhi, English Premier League club, Manchester City, or stay with his present club, Inter Milan.

He hesitated talking about his possible departure from Inter Milan, arguing that it is premature for him to start talking about a departure, when he has not yet signed any contract with another club.

He also refused to comment on the mouthwatering salary of FCFA 13 billion (20 million Euro), which the Russian club is reportedly offering as annual pay, for a three year contract.

“As of now, I still have a contract with Inter Milan. It is the terms of this contract that I presently know. I cannot be talking about the terms of a contract that doesn’t exist,” Eto’o told the press.

However, he said negotiations are ongoing between the management of Inter and that of Anzhi.

He talked about the possibility of also going to Premiership side, Manchester City, saying the door is still open for discussion with the MC Manager, Roberto Mancini.

Eto’o said if at the end an agreement cannot be reached, then he would play next season for Inter.

He expressed optimism that before August 31, 2011, his situation will be cleared.