Eto’o says he has always looked up to Roger Milla

Robin Toskin in Libreville-Gabon

Samuel Eto’o appeared to have put behind him his spat with fellow Cameroon legend Roger Milla when he told a packed media briefing in Libreville that he always wanted to be like the 1990 World Cup hero.

Their fallout preceded the disastrous 2010 World Cup campaign in South Africa after Milla claimed that Eto’o’s contribution to the Indomitable Lions was, "too little compared to what he has done for Barcelona and Inter Milan."

The Anzhi Makachkhala forward responded then by writing an open letter to Cameroonians.

Milla appeared to have won the public judgment when the Indomitable Lions crashed out of tournament when they lost all three matches.

But on Monday during a briefing on activities of the Sylvia Bongo Foundation involved in combating the scourge of HIV/Aids, Eto’o said: "In my position as a well-known figure I would like kids growing up like me to have someone to look up to for inspiration. For me it was Roger Milla."

Whether he did so for the sake of PR for the President’s wife foundation is a matter of conjecture.

The star striker, however, ducked the question of why Cameroon is not in the Africa Nations Cup.

Eto’o, who is serving an eight-month suspension from the national team for encouraging team-mates not to travel to Algeria for a friendly in November, launched an anti-Aids campaign dubbed "3-0: Afcon Without Aids".

Eto’o said it is a pity Aids is still considered a taboo in Africa yet it can be talked about in order to prevent deaths.

"When it is considered taboo, it becomes difficult to combat it. It is for these reason I want to contribute to towards fighting it," Eto’o said.

The former Inter Milan and Barcelona forward took part in a mini-opening ceremony for co-hosts Gabon accompanied by Caf President Issa Hayatou, Caf Vice-President Molefi Oliphant and Gabon Vice-President’s wife, Sylvia.