Eto’o’s Antalaspor side are currently bottom of the Turkish Super Lig, but the former Chelsea forward is confident of a revival
Much-travelled Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto’o is hardly the shy and retiring type, so it’s no major surprise that he was taken recent critics to task following his Antalyaspor side’s slow start to the season.
The former Chelsea , Everton and Barcelona striker’s current team are rooted to the bottom of the Turkish Super Lig following a poor start to the season and fans are understandably not impressed.
The team’s latest indiscretion was to snatch a draw from the jaws of victory when Rizespor’s stoppage time equaliser on Monday night denied Antalyaspor their first win of the season.
Following the 1-1 draw Eto’o went to meet with outraged fans and reportedly put his money where his mouth was by telling one supporter that he would bet him him €100,000 that they team would finish the season in the top ten.
According to Goal, the fan was named in the Turkish press as Mehmet Akdeniz and asked Eto’o: “We have Besiktas next, what will the state of the team be and when will we win?”
The four-time African Player of the Year answered back via an interpreter, assuring him that the Akrepler would finish in the top half.
“We will finish in the top 10 of the Super Lig, I stand by what I said and my promise,” he said.
“Believe me, I will give you €100,000 if we don’t finish in the top 10.”
While it’s still early days, Eto’o’s side have gathered only three points from their opening seven games to leave them two points adrift at the bottom of the league.
Eto’o joined Antalyaspor on a three-year deal in 2015, netting 13 goals in his first 15 games before having a stint as interim player-manager.
