The Observer (Kampala)
Shifa Mwesigye
2 July 2008
It is Tuesday, and time crawls when the Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o is late. He was supposed to be here by 7p.m. It is now 7.02 and he is not driving towards us.
The event publicist Hellen Nyana insisted the whole week that I should be at Club Silk by 7p.m. But now its 7.05p.m and Eto'o is not in sight. Ange Noir's Charlie Lubega strolls in with his two sons at 7.15p.m, but no Eto'o. Club Silk owner Elvis Ssekyanzi makes his way in, Mitch Egwang is here too, so is Sylvia Owori and her party of hanger-ons. It is now 8p.m., no Eto'o.
"He is a star, stars don't rush," someone tells me the little fact I had forgotten.
The Cameroonian Barcelona striker is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, with 16 goals. He is also the record holder in the number of appearances by an African in La Liga. At least so says wikipedia of this dude we are waiting for religiously.
Conversation is in hushed tones as fans make merry. Drinks are free and Mitch standing with a friend is for the moment some attraction.
All seats are booked and standing space is limited; I head outside to avoid the loud noise for a while.
And Lo! Bobi Wine's Escalade with number plate ETO'O takes the turn at Sixth Street as we are pushed aside. It is 8.18p.m. and he is finally here. Phew!
The car doors are opened to reveal a very short dark skinned man. He is kind with his smile and if it wasn't for the bodyguards, he could pass off as a high school kid if his blue shirt and the way he is wearing his jeans are anything to go by.
On June 1, 2008, Eto'o was accused of head butting a reporter at a press conference in the Cameroonian capital of Yaoundé. The reporter who suffered a fractured hand during the fracas said Eto'o hit him very hard on the upper lip and his teeth became loose.
Sitting quietly in a corner today, Eto'o doesn't come off as the dad he is or that guy who beats up journalists.
Everyone is at their best behaviour.
I see Owori and her party excited. They are not making their presence go unnoticed. Brenda Nanyonjo doesn't waste time getting in line for a chance with Mitch. If she gets a question right, she gets an autographed T-shirt or football from Eto'o. The real catch is a photo op with the super star who is hurdled silently in his chair.
Eto'o doesn't speak English, so he is laughing at the emcee's jokes after we are done laughing when his interpreter repeats the jokes. Other times he is laughing with us when Mitch is kind enough to switch to French.
And I see he is enjoying the belly dancing from the Obsessions who put up a good show to close the night.
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