Cotê d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) star Didier Drogba recently sent a letter to the Ivorian press apologizing for the team’s poor performance in the recent African Cup of Nations. Drogba’s letter was a sign of recognition that he knows how much the Ivorian team, nicknamed Les Éléphants, means to the Ivorian people. In the 2006 African Cup of Nations, the Ivorian team’s electric performances brought levels of civil unrest to a halt in Cotê d’Ivoire. Drogba’s apologetic letter is the refreshing sign of a player who understands what he means to his people, and for better or worse, the impact that his actions can have on a nation.
I wish that more people, particularly non-sports figures, made genuine gestures to people they influence when things go wrong. Politicians, for instance, can learn from Drogba. Yes, I just wrote that sentence. Politicians would have a bit more leeway to work if they actually just took responsibility for their actions when they let people down.
What do you make of Drogba’s gesture?
Did he seal the letter with a kiss? As a Chelsea fan, I’m always pro-Drogba. As long as he keeps playing like he’s playing, he can do what he wants.
Not sure, Roman. Can you see Ashley Cole sending this letter out to the people of England? Hmmm.
Clive, Top Drog is just trying to rehabilitate his image. I bet you his agent wrote the letter!
Nice gesture by Drogba, but you couldn’t seriously be comparing a footballer apologizing about not playing well, to a politician apologizing about decisions they make that actually affect people’s lives? What I would really like to see Drogs do is apologize about diving at almost any provocation. That would really lift my spirits:) He is bloody good though.
I was simply talking about the thought of making a gesture to people who care. Drogba doesn’t need to apologize for just playing poorly. He knows how much the game means to his people, and he’s seen the positive effect that the team’s play has had on Ivorians. A not insignificant number of people on this side of the pond can’t even name local politicians. The Ivory Coast team has shown that it can actually affect people’s lives. Re: politicians, they rarely take actions that impact people’s lives. Politics is in a constant state of paralysis due to constant re-election fever. Posturing is the status quo.
Anyway, i digress. Drogs gets the thumbs up for me in this one. Diving, two thumbs down.