Friends from Ivory Coast

For the past week, Didier Drogba and the rest of the Ivory Coast national soccer team have been practicing at the athletic facilities across from my office. Their arrival caused quite a stir, and hundreds of locals flocked to the soccer field to catch a glimpse of the team practicing. From my perch on the treadmill at Pippa’s, my local gym, I appreciated the change in talent. Drogba & Co. was far superior to the usual peewees.

The following afternoon, I returned to the gym, only to find out that this time, instead of practicing on the field, the team was actually working out in the gym. I was originally rhapsodized by the team’s presence, but I became very self-conscious when I realized I was working out among men of Sparta (not literally, just physically). Having the jimjams (also the gymjams) I rushed through my normal routine, thinking that no matter where in the gym I was, I was definitely in one of the Ivorian’s way. From palavering with the gym staff, I soon found out the reason they were in town was because of an upcoming Africa Cup qualifying match against West African rival Benin.

Despite my unhinged nerves and inferior physique, I was trying to find an opening line to strike up conversation with one of team members. So what brings you to Ghana? Oh the reason you’re here is because your home match is being played in Ghana this weekend. And the reason your home match is being played in Ghana is because your native land is amid civil disruption on account of two men believing they are the rightful president. Unable to find a clear conversation starter, I trudged my portly figure to the locker room and called it a day.

Figuring it courteous to support our new acquaintances, my colleagues and I decided to attend the qualifying cup match. In the course of investigating how to get to the Accra Sports Stadium, my German colleague, Seb, discovered that the stadium happened to be home to the worst stadium disaster to ever happen in Africa, resulting in 127 deaths. Overall, I would classify the game as a success. Nobody died and Drogba scoring two goals to lead the Ivory Coast in a 2-1 victory.

Stadium fare: 5 cedis. Vuvuzelas: 8 cedis. Risking our lives to support our new Ivorian friends: Priceless.