"When I started out with the national team, Samuel Eto'o came up to me and said: 'You know, little guy, never judge strikers by goals alone'. I often think about what he said then, and it's pushed me to work hard and excel myself."
The words are those of Cameroon front man Vincent Aboubakar, in conversation with FIFA.com. Aboubakar was only 18 when he received that nugget of advice, and shortly afterwards found his name on the 23-man list announced by the then Indomitable Lions coach Paul Le Guen for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.
The Yaounde-born Aboubakar went on to make two promising appearances as a substitute in a tournament that ended all too early for the African side, who were beaten in all three of their group matches.
Much has changed for the striker in the four years since then. No sooner was South Africa 2010 over than he left for France to join Valenciennes, where he stayed for three years before switching to Lorient. The move to Brittany has paid off, with Aboubakar helping himself to 16 goals so far this season, a tally bettered only by Zlatan Ibrahimovic in France and more than the Cameroonian managed overall in the three years he spent at his previous club.
"Lorient play an expressive and very attacking style of football, with a 4-4-2 formation," he explained. "I'm very lucky to be playing my football here, though I've also worked hard to make things happen."
Though grateful for the role that Valenciennes played in his emergence in Ligue 1, Aboubakar was low on confidence when he finished his stint there. Released at the end of his contract, he was given another chance to shine in France by Lorient boss Christian Gourcuff.
"I have a lot of respect for him," he said of his current coach. "He gave me some great advice when I arrived. He really picked me up and boosted my confidence at what was a difficult time for me. I owe him an awful lot, and the team too."
Brazil-bound?
The Lorient goal-getter has hit form at just the right time, with the Cameroon squad for Brazil 2014 to be announced shortly. Aboubakar hopes to be named in it, but is well aware that the Indomitable Lions face anything but an easy task in the world finals, not with the host nation, Croatia and Mexico providing the opposition in Group A.
