IVORY COAST: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Ivory Coast play Cameroon in charity soccer match in Abidjan
Record ID:
181908
IVORY COAST: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Ivory Coast play Cameroon in charity soccer match in Abidjan
- Title: IVORY COAST: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Ivory Coast play Cameroon in charity soccer match in Abidjan
- Date: 15th June 2009
- Summary: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (JUNE 13, 2009) (REUTERS) WOMEN DANCING AND SINGING AT ABIDJAN STADIUM WIDE OF STADIUM VARIOUS OF MATCH IVORIAN PLAYERS WAVING TO THE CROWD AFTER SCORING A GOAL CROWD SCREAMING WIDE OF STADIUM SCORE ON THE SCOREBOARD (SOUNDBITE) (French) DIDIER DROGBA, CHELSEA PLAYER, SAYING: "What happened on March 29 is a national tragedy. We are here now to pay our respects and particularly so that people don't forget what happened." WIDE OF STADIUM SCORE BOARD WITH TEXT READING: HOMAGE TO VICTIMS OF MARCH 29, 2009 - WE SUPPORT THE CHAIN OF SOLIDARITY (Hommage au victime du drame du 29 Mars 2009 - soutenons la chaîne de solidarité.) VARIOUS OF BENCH OF CAMEROOM'S TEAM MORE OF MATCH (SOUNDBITE) (French) YAYA TOURE, BARCELONA PLAYER, SAYING: "We are happy to play this game, we know it's a friendly match but it's a match that achieves something. It's true that some of our supporters are not here with us (referring to the victims) today and it's for them that we are playing this game. And I think it's a match that brings us closer to our supporters." VARIOUS OF THE CAMEROON AND IVORIAN TEAMS (SOUNDBITE) (French) SORY DIABATE. IVORIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION OFFICIAL, SAYING: "A solidarity chain was started here today in Ivory Coast and for us at the Federation it was important that we are part of this solidarity chain so that we can bring our support to the relatives of the victims, and for the 131 people who were injured here. Let's not forget that 20 people died. The number increased from 19 to 20." VARIOUS OF CAMEROONIAN PLAYER FOR BARCELONA, ETO'O
- Embargoed: 30th June 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA351FLBP0OVTTIZ0X17VIUXZUM
- Story Text: Soccer stars Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and Samuel Eto'o were involved in a charity football match between Ivory Coast and Cameroon Saturday (June 13) at Abidjan Stadium, Ivory Coast. The game was organised to pay respect to the Ivorians who died in a stadium stampede last March, where 20 people died and 132 were injured.
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba said: "What happened on March 29 is a national tragedy. We are here now to pay our respects and particularly so that people don't forget what happened."
Cameroon may have to play their crucial World Cup qualifier against Gabon without their captain, Rigobert Song, after he sustained a shoulder injury in the friendly which Cameroon lost 2-1.
Barcelona defender Yaya Toure said: "We are happy to play this game, we know it's a friendly match but it's a match that achieves something. It's true that some of our supporters are not here with us (referring to the victims) today and it's for them that we are playing this game. And I think it's a match that brings us closer to our supporters."
The Ivorian football federation were present as well as local dancers and spectators. An Ivorian football federation official , Sory Diabate said:"A solidarity chain was started here today in Ivory Coast and for us at the Federation it was important that we are part of this solidarity chain so that we can bring our support to the relatives of the victims, and for the 131 people who were injured here. Let's not forget that 20 people died. The number increased from 19 to 20." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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