Glo-CAF 2009 Awards: Cheers And Criticisms Greet Didier Drogba’s Award Back Home

While the 2009 Glo-CAF Awards were taking place last night in neighbouring Ghana, Ivory Coast showed little interest, unlike during the 2006 edition where son of the soil Didier Drogba was sure to be crowned.

Few people in the country believed Drogba would best rival Samuel Eto’o in Accra last night. When the news of Drogba’s success floated in, Goal.com hit the streets of Ivory Coast’s capital Abidjan to get the views of fans.

Jean Jacques Konan, a roadside bookseller says he was utterly shocked.

“Like almost everybody around me, I thought Samuel Eto’o was going to pick it up. I think people didn’t expect it for Drogba that’s why there were no motivations; even the national TV RTI didn’t relay it live like they did in 2006 when Drogba won it.”

Soro Yvette, a 29-year-old female nurse believes CAF only repaired their 2008 blunder.

“I believe CAF compensated Drogba for the mistake they made for giving the award to Mali’s Frederick Kanoute in 2008 instead of Drogba. To me, Samuel Eto’o should have been crowned this time around. He was most outstanding in 2009.”

However, some think Drogba deserves it after bouncing back to good form in the middle of the 2009 season with Chelsea, and his effort in qualifying Ivory Coast for South Africa 2010.

“It’s true Drogba’s 2009 season began with injuries, but he took off to greatness and proved that he has always been a phenomenon,” says Abel Kabi, a law student at the University of Cocody, Abidjan.

“Drogba’s goal against Malawi last year qualified Ivory Coast for their second World Cup. I disagree with those who say CAF gave Drogba the award to compensate for his loss in 2008. The guy merits it,” Kabi concludes.

Eto’o, Drogba and Michael Essien should not have been the top three because neither took their national team to the AFCON final at Angola 2010, according to some soccer addicts in Abidjan.

“To me, Egyptian captain Ahmed Hassan should have won it because he led his team to the final and they won the trophy,” says Landry Nguoandi, a 37-year-old banker. “I can’t understand how CAF behave. Giving priorities to African players abroad makes our continental football inferior and every budding footballer on the continent will always fight to flee abroad because that’s where the gains and respect for football reside.”

In general, most people in Ivory Coast were not really expecting Drogba to be the next continental king. Eto’o's name was dominating the gossips and the media hours before the award.

Sports media in the Ivory Coast this morning used the word “surprise” to present the news of Drogba’s award as Africa's Best Player of 2009. It is believed this will boost the Chelsea’s hit man’s dwindling reputation in his homeland.

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