‘Didier Drogba’s loss was as a result of envy’- Dr. Arinye

Nigeria’s first female University Director of Sports Dr. Cecilia Arinye has described Didier Drogba’s loss in the recently concluded Ivorian FA election as a loss facilitated by envy.

The former Ivorian Captain and Chelsea legend contested to seek endorsement from the Association of Former Footballers, but failed to record a single vote in an election which took place via video conference due to the covid-19 lockdown directive.

Unfortunately, 11 out of the 14 who participated in the voting exercise voted for his opponent while the remaining 3 abstained from voting.

Dr. Arinye who spoke exclusively with Sports Intelligence Magazine from her official residence at the University of Lagos, described Drogba’s loss as shameful and a heavy blow to the development of Africa Football generally.

“I wept when I saw the result” Arinye started. “It was shameful, and nothing else could have made Drogba lose in such manner if not for the envy which his fellow ex-players had against him.

“What was really wrong for ex-players to vote for someone like Didier Drogba in Ivory Coast? The Blue Badge Umpire asked.

“I am yet to come of it.” she said.
Arinye who became the first black woman to officiate in table tennis at the Paralympics Games at the Rio de Janeiro in 2016 further described Drogba as a brand.

“Didier Drogba is a brand and a symbol of African football. If considered as President of the FA, his presence is enough marketing for the development of Football in Ivory Coast, but it is quite unfortunate that the people made a different choice.”

“It is only in Africa that this kind of thing can happen,” Arinye insisted.

“In the western world and other parts of the world, members would have rallied round to ensure that an ex-player of Drogba’s caliber emerge as President of the FA,” she concluded.
It will be recalled that Didier Drogba who helped his country qualify for their first-ever World Cup in Germany 2006 was also described during one of their matches by the commentator as

“An Icon of African Football”.
During the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup, Drogba became the first-ever player from an African nation to score against Brazil in a FIFA World Cup.