On Wednesday, May 21st 2008, the world has watched a great soccer spectacle; the champions’ league final match opposing Chelsea FC to Manchester United. The game was there to be won for both teams fighting for Europe’s soccer elite trophy. Manchester United beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after a dramatic 1-1 draw. Kalou and Drogba families in Abidjan have spent an eventful evening that day.

Manchester United and Chelsea FC offered a good soccer spectacle the evening of May 21st May. Ivorians felt honoured as two amongst the cream of their gifted soccer players, namely Salomon Kalou and Drogba Didier were on the spot. In Abidjan, the economic hub of Ivory Coast, shops started to shut theirs doors two hours before the event, posters of the two prodigal sons could be seen everywhere, traffic jams with horns of cars and people comings and goings gave a festive and colourful picture to this evening…Nothing that one can put into words can express the fever that caught Ivorians that day. On the other hand, nothing that one can put into words can express the range of emotions that Ivorians supporting Chelsea FC, fans of Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba, and Kalou and Drogba families watching around the football event went through during this game. Nothing anyone can say or write will ever capture the celebration of the equalizer; no words can express the emotions of the crowd gathered at Kalou and Drogba’s homes during the drama of the penalty shoot-out. It was simply “great”.

Most of the interviewees predicted the victory of Chelsea FC over Manchester United and asserted that this final match was an opportunity for Chelsea to break out from the yoke of Manchester United. Then, they started to celebrate the victory of Chelsea before the beginning of the match. Kalou and Drogba families in Abidjan made no exception!

At 17:45 GMT, one hour before the starting of the match, the Drogba family has welcomed a crowd of kids and male and female adults who came to watch the match with the Drogba family on a high screen set up for the occasion. When the Slovakian referee Lubos Michel blew his whistle to let the match start, clamours raised from the crowd and Albert Drogba, Didier Drogba’s father and other members of the Drogba family clapped their hands.

The crowd gathered at Drogba’s felt sad and disappointed when Cristiano Ronaldo scored the first goal through header from Wes Brown’s cross 26 minutes after the beginning of the match. But Lampard scored the equalizer through an Essien pass just before the interval and the whole crowd was as caught by spasms, running here and there; some of the spectators embraced Albert Drogba, Didier Drogba’s father, and raised his hands up. The game was there to be won for both teams in normal time. During the interval the house got livelier with singing and dancing. During this while, Albert Drogba, the father of the international soccer player Didier Drogba was happy to answer to some of the questions we asked him. “I really didn’t expect to see my son Didier Drogba becoming a soccer player and reaching such a high level today. Yes, indeed, Didier Drogba has reached the top highest point of his carrier today…Actually, when I sent him to school, I expected that he become a lawyer or a doctor but not a soccer player. Today, Didier Drogba is showing that he is more useful as an international soccer player and his mother and I and the other members of the family are his very first supporters” asserted Albert Drogba.

The second half time was dramatic; Lampard and Didier Drogba hit the woodwork and when Didier Drogba was sent off four minutes from the end of extra time by the referee for slapping Vidic, the public started booing while Didier Drogba father’s held his head within his two hands. Then, the public claimed Kalou Salomon to come to Chelsea’s rescue. Chelsea coach Avram Grant, it seems, had heard the lamentations of the crowd; two minutes into extra-time, he made his first change, sending on Salomon Kalou for Florent Malouda. This change came as a breath of fresh air and sparked joyful and noisy celebrations in the crowd.

The second half time and the extra-time elapsed, letting the public and the members of the Drogba family disappointed, doubtful and with the fear of losing the European soccer elite trophy.

Some of the spectators, those who have no spirit to support such a decisive test, decided to leave the place when the soot-out started. When Terry missed the penalty that would have given Chelsea the trophy, some spectators started shouting while others broke down in tears. When Anelka’s shot was palmed away by Van der Sar, front side spectators collapsed in their chairs. The joyful ambiance was suddenly replaced with a mournful mood. As the crowd scattered around, people discussed the tactics of Avram Grant, besides, many persons who gathered behind Albert Drogba (the father of Didier Drogba) to watch the match said the coach of Chelsea should be considered as responsible for this defeat. Contrarily to the public opinion, Mr Kalou Senior, the father of Salomon Kalou did not blame the coach of Chelsea even if he asserted that he is disappointed: “I am disappointed because I didn’t expect to this result…but as I am not a soccer specialist, I can neither blame the coach for his tactics nor for his choices and changes.”


On May 21st 2008, the people of Ivory Coast, the fans of Chelsea throughout the world and the players of Chelsea FC received a very bitter pill from Manchester United. That day, Manchester United was crown as King of European football after beating Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Despite this sad outcome, Ivorians still are celebrating their two prodigal sons, their soccer heroes: Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou.


Selay,
reporting from Kalou and Drogba’s homes in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.