Former Real Madrid and Barcelona forward Samuel Eto'o says he secretly played football as a youngster as he struggled to make his parents accept his dream of becoming a professional.
Growing up in Douala in his native Cameroon, Eto'o was barred from playing football by his parents but he was not to be discouraged from pursuing the game.
It is a familiar tale narrated by many African footballers, but the Cameroonian says he insisted on football as he nicodemously went to play, before an opportunity to join Real Madrid came in 1996, after passing through Kadji Sports Academy in Douala.