Choupo – Moting: Star or bright spot in dark room

In the last few weeks, it has been interesting to see the way various Cameroonian sports desks have been treating Choupo- Moting. Very few have spared praises for the young player. Simply put, he has been raised to the position of football star: some irrestible prodigy with  footballing talents of Ronaldinho-ish proportions. Really? That is the question that keeps coming to my mind when I think of this new craze for the Mayence man. But is this sudden obsession with Choupo not an attempt to distract the public. Aren't his admirers trying to remain positive because they don't want to believe that an entire team can be devoid of any good  player. Don't get me wrong. I am not saying that the player is not talented or doesn't deserve all the attention. Come on, with all the goals, he deserves some credit. What I am asking is whether Choupo would be this loved or followed if Eto'o was around. Isn't his sudden rise to fame an attempt to fill the gap left by Eto'o. We are all human and in times of adversity we need  a hero: someone who incarnates hope. With all this in mind, one is tempted to believe that the press' sudden love for Choupo isn't sincere. It is not because he is a star. It is simply because he is the only bright spot in a pretty dark room called the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. When the star returns, his admirers will swiftly turn their attention away from Choupo. While waiting, I pray the other players become bright spots so cumulatively they can be one giant star to us.