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Didier Drogba Visits Soweto And Compliments South Africa
Celebrated Ivory Coast and Chelsea star Didier Drogba believes the successful staging of the FIFA Confederations Cup will completely eliminate doubts about Africa’s ability to host the World Cup.
Jun 29, 2009 8:25:09 AM
The Chelsea striker was in South Africa at the weekend with a host of other big names and graced the Nike Mercurial Vapor Speed Trials at Hyundai Park on Saturday.
“It is important for us African players to give support to the World Cup that we are hosting next year for the first time ever," he said.
“This is our party and we have to show the whole world what we can do. I know it will be a fantastic tournament that we will all enjoy."
Having had first hand experience of the vibe and organisation in the country, the former African Footballer of the Year is full of praise for the host nation.
“The organisation in the country has been very good and I am sure it has eliminated a lot of bad press about the continent," he added.
"There has been a lot of negative things said about the World Cup coming here, but I believe from now on everywhere in the world they will have accepted the reality of the World Cup coming to Africa.”
Drogba, whose national team the Elephants, Ivory Coast, is already well on the way to qualifying for the World Cup having won the opening two matches of their qualifiers, adds that his friend Steven Pienaar, who plays for Everton, is his favourite player in the Bafana Bafana team.
Recalling the agony of losing the UEFA Champions League final to Manchester United last year, Drogba said, “It was difficult to lose the game that way. But in football you have to learn to quickly forget and focus ahead, which is why by the next day we were already looking forward to the next match.”
The 31-year-old striker was joined by local star Siyabonga Nkosi in handing the speed trials’ winner Tebogo Nobela his prize of a pair of Mercurial Vapor V boots.
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“It is important for us African players to give support to the World Cup that we are hosting next year for the first time ever," he said.
“This is our party and we have to show the whole world what we can do. I know it will be a fantastic tournament that we will all enjoy."
Having had first hand experience of the vibe and organisation in the country, the former African Footballer of the Year is full of praise for the host nation.
“The organisation in the country has been very good and I am sure it has eliminated a lot of bad press about the continent," he added.
"There has been a lot of negative things said about the World Cup coming here, but I believe from now on everywhere in the world they will have accepted the reality of the World Cup coming to Africa.”
Drogba, whose national team the Elephants, Ivory Coast, is already well on the way to qualifying for the World Cup having won the opening two matches of their qualifiers, adds that his friend Steven Pienaar, who plays for Everton, is his favourite player in the Bafana Bafana team.
Recalling the agony of losing the UEFA Champions League final to Manchester United last year, Drogba said, “It was difficult to lose the game that way. But in football you have to learn to quickly forget and focus ahead, which is why by the next day we were already looking forward to the next match.”
The 31-year-old striker was joined by local star Siyabonga Nkosi in handing the speed trials’ winner Tebogo Nobela his prize of a pair of Mercurial Vapor V boots.
Talk all things soccer with the rest of our readers in the Goal.com Forums!
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