Drogba, Keita, Diouf, Diawara, Weah…and the anecdotes never told – Football – Sport News Africa

Drogba has “haunted» his teammates

Drogba got here again to the recollections of a lot of his Ligue 1 teammates Frederick Carrasco (Marseille), Nestor Fabri at (Guingamp) because the strongest participant encountered. Nestor Fabri says: “… the strongest was Didier Drogba, with whom I performed at Guingamp, for my final season in France (2002-2003). I marked him in coaching and advised him he wanted to play extra along with his physique to hinder the defenders. He exploded that season, earlier than going to OM, the place he scored round twenty objectives (19 in L1), then to Chelsea, the place he had the extraordinary profession that we all know him to be. »

Former striker Francois Calderaro was marked the precise manner by George Weah at PSG. He’s the strongest participant with whom he has advanced. Different issues additionally appealed to him concerning the Liberian President. “This energy, this tackle, it was spectacular! And off the sector, a gentleman. Mister George. It bears its title effectively. At PSG, he left me quantity 9. A coronary heart like that. At some point, on getting back from a visit, I noticed him distribute to the homeless within the metro our meal trays that we had not touched”.

Seydou Keita: the expertise detected

Christian Gourcuff, the legendary former coach of Lorient in his remarks, has constructive recollections of Seydou Keita who got here again rather a lot in his interview. “The participant whose potential we instantly detected was Seydou Keita. He arrived whereas we have been in D2 (2000) and he remodeled the group. He was a unprecedented participant, which his profession confirmed. He’s strengthened, on this sense, by Itandje who labored with him. “In Lens, I skilled such phenomena! Seydou Keita is available in #1. I really like midfield, it is a place that fascinates me. He knew tips on how to do all the things: get well balls, play quick, play lengthy, anticipate, rating objectives. Apart from, he was common. When he arrived in Lens (2002), the primary yr was a bit troublesome. However when he began taking part in, I stated to myself: It isn’t attainable! It was monstrous”.

Those that drag the status of revelers, clowns and so forth.

Former Cameroon and Lens goalkeeper Charles Itandje remembers El Hadj Diouf as a celebration animal. “El-Hadji Diouf was one thing. On Thursday, he was not there. He got here house on Friday, however on Sunday it was the strongest. He did it to us as soon as in Marseille. El Hadj returned on Friday morning, the evening had been a bit lengthy. Gervais Martel (former president of Lens) took him apart to say: “You higher make us win this weekend.” He scored, we gained 2-1 (December 26, 2001) ! He was so gifted. I am not saying that is what it’s important to do, however that is what he wanted to achieve success.

His former nationwide teammate Souleymane Diawara additionally has a status as a celebration animal that he himself acknowledges in just a few interviews. That is confirmed by Gregory Paisley who appears to award him the prize amongst his former group mates: ““Souley” Diawara. It was his poise, and it was such a drive of nature! If others tried to comply with him, they fell on the ground. As soon as, in Le Havre, we performed ball tennis… He stood on the barrier and didn’t transfer. When the ball got here in, he would pop a bit of header every so often, however he would persist with the barrier and stagger. He was cooked”.

Feindounou the clown!

Puygrenier in the meantime retains good recollections of the Guinean Feindounou, his funniest teammate in Ligue 1. “Pascal Feindouno, in Monaco. I am with Grégory Lacombe and a good friend of his calls him: “There was no coaching for many who did not play? As a result of Feindouno drinks mojitos on the terrace!” The following day, Pascal arrives with an enormous smile and the assistant says to him: “However you did not come yesterday? As well as, it was work in entrance of the objective!” And there, Pascal solutions: “However I did not perceive! And that, I already did after I was in Saint-Étienne (laughs)!” “.

Learn on the identical matter: SNA the podcast: Le Havre, Bordeaux, OM, Senegal…Souleymane Diawara offers himself up

Gamers labeled as “movers”

Former defender Frederic Danjou on this particular concern of The Teame talked concerning the teammates he would not overlook. For him one of many nastiest gamers he has performed with, on the sector to be specified, is the previous Senegalese worldwide Frederick Mendy. “In Bastia, Frédéric Mendy wished to scare, he performed it”, he stated. For the one who was probably the most imposing, Danjou didn’t hesitate an oz.. “Taribo West in Auxerre. It was a bodily monster, a log. Touching him damage you. In coaching, one night, we play playing cards, it is raining and we hear: Pam! Pam! Pam! Like somebody operating. We open the window. We see him in raincoat, he was doing sprints and we are saying to him: However what are you doing? He replies: I have not labored sufficient as we speak. “A sick factor. His haircut? He did it on function to scare folks.

Former Nancy defender Sebastien Pygrennier remembered Senegalese Pape Malickou Diakhité, a mover. He cataloged him because the baddest participant on the inexperienced rectangle with whom he shared a locker room. “In Nancy, Pape Diakhate. He reduce a couple of. I advised him “gently !”, but it surely was too late (laughs). In opposition to Schalke 04 within the UEFA Cup (3-1, September 28, 2006), Gerald Asamoah escapes from 30 yards. I see Pope leaving, I say to myself “No ! No !” and he drops a deal with, each ft off the bottom. He will get up, like I did not hit him, and the opposite one has his tibia-fibula on his shoulder. He had a horrible fracture.

The Faye-Kouassi pair in Ligue 1

Gregory Paisley, the previous defender who roamed round in Ligue 1, remembers some very nasty teammates throughout his profession. “I performed with just a few cutters. In Troyes, Ibrahima Faye and Blaise Kouassi have been sick, their sons have been touching one another. The yr PSG nearly went down (in 2007), we lead 1-0 on the Park, Faye accompanies Amara Diané earlier than giving her a deal with within the field. I stated to myself : “It isn’t attainable, he does it on function.” (Beat 2-1, Estac is relegated). Onyekachi Apam in Good was violent too. We obtain Monaco, (david) Ospina clears, Park (Chu Younger) quiet stroll and Apam headbutts him! There is no such thing as a ball, nothing! Nobody has seen, I have a look at Apam and throw him: “However you are loopy!” “.

⏪ Didier Drogba scoring for Marseille towards Porto…

🇨🇮 @Didier drogba ⚽️@OM_English | #UCL pic.twitter.com/ZQ8j1ifGOQ

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 2, 2020