Former Cote d’Ivoire international Didier Zokora has explained why former teammate Didier Drogba failed to secure a single vote in the West African country’s Football Association presidential election.
Chelsea legend Drogba polled no vote in the recent FA Presidential elections as his rival Sory Diabate polled 11 of the 14 votes cast with three abstaining.
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Zokora, who featured for Tottenham Hotspur who was one of the electorates said Drogba failed to win the elections because he neglected his duties as the honorary president of the FA and also, failed to declare his intention to contest on time.
“What we are saying is that Didier Drogba, as honorary president of the Association has never been present at a single meeting. He did not even inform us of his candidacy for the presidency of Fif. It’s a huge disrespect,” Zokora is quoted on Radio Jam by Afrik Foot.
Zokora added that Drogba’s ideas were not convincing and would not benefit the country’s football.
According to him, Diabate’s experience in football administration made him a more qualified candidate as Drogba had not even surrounded himself with people who have in-depth knowledge about the game in the country.
“Drogba’s program is not convincing because it doesn’t make the most of Ivorian football. Mr Sory Diabaté offered us a very interesting project and that’s why we support him.
“Also, Drogba is not even surrounded by people who have deep knowledge of Ivorian football. Mr Sory Diabaté has a better grasp of the subject than Didier Drogba,” Zokora added.
The results of the election, which was done via video conferencing, has reportedly sparked a massive debate in the Ivory Coast.
Drogba had been the massive favourite going into the polls, particularly after experienced administrator Eugene Diomande withdrew from the race and publicly backed the former Ivorian captain.
8 Comments
Oga Drogba, your need to learn football politics… Get close to people that will help your destiny
It was an election, you vote ur choice and preferable candidate, so no need for unreasonable excuses.
“What we are saying is that Didier Drogba, as honorary president of the Association has never been present at a single meeting. He did not even inform us of his candidacy for the presidency of Fif. It’s a huge disrespect….Also, Drogba is not even surrounded by people who have deep knowledge of Ivorian football. Mr Sory Diabaté has a better grasp of the subject than Didier Drogba,”
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Really, our exinternationals should take a chill and stop thinking just being exinternationals who played football in Europe qualifies them for anything and everything.
Oliver Khan is almost completing his MBA now, why..? He plans to be the president of Bayern Munich as from 2021. Iker Casillas is almost done with his degree in Administration too, why…? He’s also planning to become a Director in Real Madrid. I also heard Samuel Etoo is now studying in Harvard too. The likes of Zidane, Henry, Xavi, Gerrard, Lampard, Giggs etc all went back to the classrooms to learn Coaching before even thinking of taking up managerial roles at the top level.
These are all accomplished WORLD CLASS, WORLD FAMOUS exinternationals going back to acquire the right qualifications and competencies to prepare and position them for top administrative and managerial roles in football. They are not even resting on the fact that they were club legends or ex ballondor nominees or winners or serial league and cup winners or century of caps exinternationals.
How can you be a honorary president and yet never have the courtesy or interest to pitch up even once at meetings, even if it is as an observer or to show solidarity with the board. No familiarity with all the key stakeholders and people who have broad knowledge of the terrain, and you just show up from nowhere and suddenly think you will become president because your are Didier Drogba….LMAO. Just like George Weah during his first attempts at becoming Liberia’s President. Or like our fashionista Asst SE coach who has been to more comedy shows since he retired 6yrs ago than football conferences and suddenly woke up someday and wants to begin coaching career from the top…Lolz.
We can be really funny in Africa. Nepotism and Paddy paddy man know man mentality is our Achilles heel.
Someone should pls tell these exinternationals that whatever they’ve achieved as football players ends there once they hang those booths…any endeavours they want to pursue thereafter must be learnt from the basics with humility.
Hope Drogba has learnt from this experience and will go and prepare himself better for next time. Lolz
I’ve said it before and will say it again, Politics at any level is a game of loyalty and betrayal. Zokora has said his piece, now let’s hear from others. That being said, top politicians know how to play on the sensibilities of the electorates often to the extreme something that Drogba would have to learn if he’s indeed serious about his political ambitions. Apparantly,people take disrespect seriously.
Na wa. Drogba was the architect of his own misfortune apparently.
Having said that, this smirks of sour grapes. I may be wrong about this, but is it too much for Zokora or someone else to get Drogba on the phone and sort things out? O boy, we no see you for meeting the other day? How far? If they were friends, this should not be an issue at all. I shudder to imagine what the CIV dressing room was like when these 2 were playing. No wonder CIV failed to realize their massive potential, with all the infighting and pissing contests going on.
Nigeria should lean from other countries, allow ex internationals to manage our football, both in coaching, we need people who knows the game to take over from Pinik and others, kanu should or JJ or Omenalo should be our Nff presido, golden eaglet and under 20s 23 teams should manage by our ex internationals that play the game
Ex internationals with correct requirements. Being an ex international is not a qualification.
Drogba welcome to Corruption in Africa