FT African Legends Series: Didier Drogba, the irreplaceable Chelsea legend

After a short while, we have to reminisce the good old days. The times when African legends where still around, playing their best football in front of a crowd of tens of thousands, and millions behind a screen. This week, we focus on Didier Drogba, the Chelsea legend who had an illustrious career in England before moving to China and the MLS to wind down his career. Most people know about his highs, the times when he was the king of Stamford Bridge and a constant menace in a head to head against Arsenal. But what about the times when his career looked in jeopardy? Here’s the other side to Didier Drogba’s story.

“Two years later, Didier Drogba  returned to the club he had helped win their first and only UEFA Champions League trophy to date. He claimed that the decision was made easy by the fact that it was the Special One, Jose Mourinho who made the call and wanted him again back at the club. Although this time as backup to Diego Costa, Drogba’s presence was invaluable.”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

The Ivorian striker was brought to London by the current Manchester United boss, Jose Mourinho who was in charge of Chelsea at the time. He brought the African talent with the hope of being a backup to the Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko, a £31 million investment made by the club in 2006. Although Drogba had arrived a year earlier, he was meant to be a temporary measure as Mourinho sought for his dream striker. Shevchenko went straight into the team but failed to live up to expectations. Didier kept his head down and found the net whenever he was handed an opportunity. In no time, it was evident that the African forward was Chelsea’s best bet as Shevchenko struggled to score more than 10 goals in the 48 matches he played between 2006 and 2009. Drogba survived that test and marched on in the blue colors.

Didier Drogba of Chelsea celebrates with fans and the trophy after the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on May 24, 2015 in London, England. Chelsea were crowned Premier League champions.

(May 24, 2015 - Source: Mike Hewitt Premier League/Getty Images Europe)

Shortly after, the club invested in the experienced Nicolas Anelka to give competition to the Ivorian centre forward who had personalized the number 9 spot. In fact, Anelka came with so much reputation that he was expected to start ahead of Didier Drogba as they challenged for the UEFA Champions League. They eventually lost the final to local rivals Manchester United but Didier Drogba was by far one of their best players in the team. In the end, Drogba created a formidable partnership with Anelka and Malouda in a season which saw the club win back to back FA Cup titles in 2008/09 and 2009/10 as well as lifting the English Premier League title in the 2009/10 season. The Chelsea legend overcame yet another hurdle set in front of him by the then Chelsea coach, Avram Grant. Drogba proved his worth and landed a place in the First XI of the West London club.

Former Ivorian footballer Didier Drogba (R) and Noel Gallagher present Mohamed Salah of Liverpool with the trophy for the FIFA Puskas Award 2018 during the The Best FIFA Football Awards Show at Royal Festival Hall on September 24, 2018 in London, England.

(Sept. 23, 2018 - Source: Dan Istitene/Getty Images Europe)

As if these two tests were not enough, Chelsea made a mouthwatering £50 million bid for Liverpool forward, Fernando Torres in January 2011. El Niño was bought by Carlo Ancelotti because he suited the Italian’s style of play more than the traditional centre forward in Drogba. The African did not feel threatened by this record breaking signing as he was confident in his abilities. He humbly accepted being dropped to the bench and continued to work tirelessly in training to prove that he could still lead the line at Chelsea like he had done for 6 years. At the end of the 2010/11 season he scored a total of 11 goals as compared to Torres’ one goal which he scored in 14 appearances. The following season saw a significant amount of game time limited for Drogba which explains his 5 goals in the English Premier League. Even still, Torres had scored one more goal than him but the number of minutes he had played in 2012 , did not justify such a low return. As a result, Didier Drogba left the club of his dreams for greener pastures.

Two years later, Didier Drogba  returned to the club he had helped win their first and only UEFA Champions League trophy to date. He claimed that the decision was made easy by the fact that it was the Special One, Jose Mourinho who made the call and wanted him again back at the club. Although this time as backup to Diego Costa, Drogba’s presence was invaluable. His influence in the dressing room saw a disjointed Chelsea team return back to the top and win the English Premier League in his first season back at the club. The Blues claimed the 2014/15 crown as well as winning the Football League Cup that same year. He scored a total of 7 goals across all competitions in his last stint at the club that recognize the African great as one of their Legends. Although he did not play much, he still contributed to the success of the club. Because of that, Didier Drogba will never be forgotten by the Chelsea fans.

Didier Drogba is irreplaceable!

FT African Legends Series: Peter Ndlovu [Zimbabwe]

As time elapses and the future arrives every single day, memories fade even more so when the now presents pleasantries on a silver platter. We were there when the Egyptian returned, saw and conquered the 2017/18 English Premier League season, breaking all sorts of records and his shooting boots immortalized in an English Museum. Mohamed Salah’s story is a like puzzle piece that fits perfectly into the large narrative painted by African footballers of times past respective of whether the stories were told or not. As we celebrate those who raise their nations’ flag up high whenever they step onto any football pitch on this earth, we look back and respond to the fading memories, rehashing names of those, whose echoes never die out. Let us launch the party, zooming into the Southern African nation of Zimbabwe and reminisce the career of the Peter Ndlovu.

To many Zimbabweans, he is a man that needs no introduction. Born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and having roots in one of the most remote areas in the country, Binga - At just 19 years of age, he began writing the story of Africa and African football in one the most competitive leagues in the world. In August 1992, Ndlovu became the first black African player to play football in the English Premier League in Coventry City colors after being recruited from the Bulawayo Club, Highlanders. He quickly became a fan favorite, scoring goals in most important matches, including the first hatrick at Anfield by an away player in over 30 years. He almost became the most expensive player in to be signed by an English club after reports surfaced that Arsenal were ready to part ways with £4m to secure his services in the 1993/94 EPL season. Peter became known as “Nuddy” or “The Bulawayo Bullet” by Coventry City fans before he joined Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town and eventually capping off his English career at Sheffield United in 2004. In total, he made 423 appearances for all the English clubs, scoring 91 goals from 1991-2004. He finished his club career at South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.

Back home, in Zimbabwe - his impact was crazier. He was capped a hundred times and scored 38 goals but did more than just that. Ndlovu was known as “Nsukuzonke” which described his ability to turn on the style whenever he so desired. In 2004, He captained the country to her first ever AFCON appearance in Tunisia. His blistering performance against Eritrean in the match that sealed the qualification is still treasured by the steward of my brain’s memory center. Nsukuzonke did what he knew best, rounding all Eritrean internationals from the center arc and finding the back of the National Sports Stadium’s saggy blue nets - sending chills down almost every Zimbabwean’s spine. Football lovers and non-football lovers alike. New heights had been reached by the country as a result of one man championing all of that, bodies became numb and the reality of the idea that a people can achieve anything if they believe, became a popular reflection. It was kind of what Salah is doing to Egyptians, giving them goosebumps every time he scores a goal. The numbness was soon dissolved as bodies became projectiles, ululating, whistling, dancing and singing through the night a melody with the chiShona words; “Mo faya, mo faya, mai mwana! Ndikuvaviwa, Ndikwenyeiwo mai mwana!” Meaning, “more fire, more fire, mother of my child. I feel itchy, please scratch me.” Perfectly coining the status quo at the time.

That and many other inexpressible feelings and possibilities Ndlovu opened to the Zimbabwean people as a whole, is his legacy. Not too far ago, in an interview with BBC Africa News, Peter talked about his experience in the English leagues and alluded that his national team colors was what he wore with the greatest pride. He infamously said that he would only part ways with his national team shirt only if he were to give it to the then President of the country, Robert Mugabe.

At 45 years of age, Peter Ndlovu is currently serving as the agent of the Zimbabwean football starlet, Khama Billiat.