DROGBAKRO (DROGBA VILLAGE)

Canal Street in Koumassi-Remblais, a popular district in the south of Abidjan. A large banner stamped "Welcome to Drogbakro" (Drogbakro: Village village in baoulé) floats above cars that press on this agitated artery, clearly announcing color. In front of the sands pharmacy, a grey portal. Here lies N'Guessan Kouassi Augustin, 38, from the town of Toumodi in the centre of Ivory Coast and vigil in a taxi garage. Passionate about football and absolute fanatic from Drogba, his unconditional love for the former Chelsea star dates back to the time when he was still evolving under the colors of the Olympique de Marseille. It's April 9, 2006, after his idol won the Golden Ball, that he decided to dedicate his life to him, and forced to see that his entire existence revolved around "Tito" (nickname Didier Drogba). Every time Côte d'Ivoire or the scorer of the Elephants play a match, this self-proclaimed leader of Drogbacité takes place from 7 a. m. to the same ritual, blowing three blows from his home trumpet to the east (to symbolize sunrise), the centre (to mark a football field) and the west (to express the rest). Next, he entered chalk on a blackboard that he had at the entrance to his yard fresh news of his star and his exploits, not forgetting various information about the selections under way, the national selection matches of Côte d'Ivoire and the Ivorian diaspora. " I feel happy only when I watch a soccer match. I am a sedentary: I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't go out. No maquis or boxes, all this very little for me. I have two television stations, to be sure never to miss a match. It is almost full-time work: between Internet searches, buying newspapers and listening to BBC and RFI to get all the information about Didier, I do not sleep almost anymore». Like the followers of Augustine, many in Drogbakro, the whole family went into the diapason, lively and vibrant Tito Tito. Tanouan Justine, the young guard's wife, sells water bags on the street to improve the daily life of this modest family and help her husband continue her dream. " As the company I work in is wrong, it's been long overdue that you don't see the money anymore. " For Augustine, the fact that his wife was born on the same day as Drogba (11 March) is a sign that does not fool. The spouses also named their last little in the name of DD DD: " My last is N'Guessan Tito Christ. He was born on 9 February 2008 and that day he cried all the time because Drogba had not won the semi-final of the CAN with the Elephants». Like many Ivorians, «Mr. Drogabkro» sees sport as a privileged vector of unification and peace, and puts a great deal of emphasis on children to realize the aborted dreams of adults and to wear high the colours of Côte d'Ivoire, through positive values that transcend the excesses caused by daily difficulties. " In the long run, we would like to help our grandchildren integrate the path of school and then sport, hence all this publicity: I would like to motivate them to copy everything that is positive in sport. " If you announce to him or go to his fief on a day of match, reception or celebration, you will be able to attend the "Folie Tito" live live. For these occasions, Augustine usually takes his ceremonial suit, consisting of two great elephant ears, a wig in the colours of the Ivorian flag, a combined boubou and a huge "talisman": a cut cardboard pendant rainforests all his bust, mixing an elephant to an image of the idol. A few blows of trumpet and the entire pack of the Drogbaphiles bring in his garage to follow with visible emotion the sporting events involving the country, and more particularly the performance of the captain of the national football selection of Côte d'Ivoire. " The game days, my court can accommodate up to 100 members of our small tribe. All of us, whether we are mechanics, cobblers, public service or private agents, vagrants or taxi drivers, are united by our common passion for Didier Drogba. It's more than a fan club: It really is like a big family. Drogba is like a nourishing sap for us». After all, in Argentina they have the «maradonisme» (officially recognized Argentine religion, etc.)! For some, Augustine is a illuminé. For others, enlightened interlocutors. However, even for people who are not particularly interested in football, the visit may prove to be most interesting, especially since the reputation of this passion has already far exceeded the borders of Côte d'Ivoire: for evidence, he is now Google-isable and several newspapers of the international sports press like Eleven-World have already devoted articles to him. In front of his studio, you can see the dimensions of a giant poster in France-Football magazine dated June 2006. Before taking leave, we take a look at the modest foyer of our host: just over 10 m 2 congested of posters, t-shirts, loincloths, clocks and other effigies to the glory of the idol. Naomi, his elder, watches the last one, sleeping from the sleep of the righteous. To thank us for visiting him, Augustine takes his famous wig, loves the national flag and blows proudly in his trumpet. A few seconds, the little one wakes up and tears. His dad hurried to comfort him. On a sheet hung on the wall he took for the occasion, an unequivocal inscription: «Drogbakro does not give in to discouragement. An obstacle to happiness is to expect too much happiness "," And what is much better than Kings and Glory: You will be a footballer my son, it cannot be missed. " Goodbye, Drogbakro…