Ivorians spent a memorable weekend, when on its way to South Africa the FIFA World Cup Trophy was displayed in the Ivorian capital, Abidjan, in the State House, on Friday 16 October and the next day in ‘Palais de la Culture’ Conference Hall.
On Thursday, the State-run TV station, RTI called on Ivorians to line the streets to welcome the trophy to Abidjan. When granted an interview by the national Radio channel the same day, the President of the national football association, Jacques Anouma said he was happy that FIFA gave such an opportunity to many Ivorians to see the trophy a few days after the Elephants qualified for their second World Cup tournament following a 1-1 draw with Malawi.
In the state House, President Gbagbo was the only person allowed to touch the FIFA soccer World Cup trophy, ‘Let’s pray for our national football team, the Elephants, they must struggle hard to bring back this trophy, so as to give the opportunity to many persons to touch it’, the President said before the Minister of sport, the officials of the Ivorian Football Association, and sports journalists marvelled at the coveted 18-carat gold trophy.
The many citizens who were called on to line the streets to welcome the trophy were denied access to the state house where the Cup was displayed the first day, but the next day, they took advantage of the public exposition at Palais de la Culture Conference Hall to see the Cup.
More and more Ivorians dream of the soccer’s most treasured golden silverware and Drogba Didier has become something like a talisman which will help bring the trophy back in Abidjan for a cheerful and most memorable celebration.
