A Conversation with Elhadji Diouf (By Ebrima Ceesay in Birmingham, UK)


May 31st 2002 is a significant day in the annals of  African soccer.  On
this day, the Senegalese national soccer team, against all odds, beat World
Cup favourites and European champions France,  1-0  in the Seoul World Cup
tournament.

The Senegalese victory over France did a lot for the reputation of Africa in
terms of world-class soccer.  During the match Elhadji Diouf , the
Senegalese striker and prolific goal scorer, was a revelation.

Diouf was signed by Liverpool Football Club even before the World Cup was
over, for a record African fee of £10 million from his French First Division
Club, Lens.   Diouf went on to become a household name during the World Cup
and later became African Footballer of the Year in 2002.  He had won this
prestigious accolade in 2001, and became the second player after Ghana’s
Abedi Pele to have retained it in the last decade.

What followed the World Cup for Diouf is now history.

Then came June 8th 2003 and the Gambian national soccer team was to play
Lions of Senegal in Dakar, for the second leg of the African Cup of Nations
qualifying matches.  The first leg, held in Banjul, ended in a 0-0 draw.

It is fair to say that the relationship between The Gambia and her neighbour
Senegal has been patchy, and even turbulent at times, but no-one could have
predicted the ugly scenes which followed the Dakar match in question.  There
were reports, later denied, that some Gambian and Senegalese fans had died
during the ugly incident.

One man – Elhadji Diouf – was blamed by a section of both the Senegalese and
Gambian media for provoking the trouble.  In a pre-match interview, Diouf
had declared, metaphorically speaking, "war" against The Gambia.  His
declaration was unfortunately taken literally by some of the crazy fans, and
became a reality.


But who is Elhadji Diouf ?


Diouf is perceived as a fiery character by many, a player who is aggressive,
rude, erratic and at times plain nasty.  Thus, when I had the opportunity to
spend the weekend of 30th November 2003, with Diouf at his home in the
exclusive area of Woolton, Liverpool, I had pre-conceived notions of the
man.  Diouf’s neighbours in Woolton include his team mates Stephen Henchoz
and Sami Hyppia, his manager Gerrard Houllier, as well as Cameroonian
international defender Rigobert Song who now plays for Lens in the French
First Division, but who still maintains his large home in Liverpool.

I was prepared for a fiery Elhadji Diouf, but it would have been difficult
to meet a nicer guy. Controversial he may be, but I found him to be
generous, kind, honest, straightforward, open, humorous and humble.  The two
days that I spent in his company completely changed my opinion of the man.

My meeting with Elhadji Diouf happened by chance. Although I know Aliou
Cisse, captain of the Senegalese squad (now playing and living in
Birmingham) and  call him on his mobile from time to time to talk football
and West Africa,  I had never thought of asking Aliou Cisse to fix me with
an interview with Diouf, since I had the very wrong impression that Diouf
was difficult and erratic.  Then the unexpected happened.

I was looking after Senegalese guests at my home in Birmingham (Pape Diouf,
Pape Thioupet the singer and percussionist and his manager Elhadji Alioune
Diene) and we went together to visit Alassane Ndour, the talented Senegalese
international defender who now lives in Birmingham and is on loan until the
end of the season to West Bromwich Albion in the English First Division from
St Etienne FC in France.  Alassane Ndour was also part of the Senegalese
World Cup squad and is a good friend of Elhadji Diouf.   They share hotel
rooms when they go to play for the Senegalese national team.

While we were at Alassane Ndour’s home, he called Elhadji Diouf and arranged
for us to go to Liverpool to watch the Liverpool-Birmingham game (won by
Liverpool 3-1). Diouf organised VIP seats for us just behind his beautiful
Senegalese "metise" partner, Valerie.  After the match, Elhadji Diouf
insisted that we stay over at his home instead of returning straight away to
Birmingham.  He took us first into the player’s lounge and we had the
opportunity to meet all the Liverpool players including injured Michael
Owen, Steven Gerrard, Emile Heskey and Sami Hyppia (who asked me whether I
knew Jatto Ceesay when he realised that I was a Gambian and that my surname
is also Ceesay.  Hyppia, a Finnish international defender, explained that he
had played in Holland in the same team as Jatto before moving to Liverpool a
couple of years ago).

When we arrived at his home, Elhadji Diouf jokingly said to me, "I hope
Gambians have forgiven us.  That incident was very regrettable. Gambians and
Senegalese will always remain brothers and sisters.  So feel at home in my
house.  We are the same people and we speak the same language."

Elhadji Diouf was generous with his time, and knowing that I am a
journalist, remarked that our meeting was an opportunity for him to speak
exclusively with me about the Senegal-Gambia post match incident.  He wanted
to reassure all Gambians, especially his fans in The Gambia, that he admires
them and that he truly appreciated all their support during the World Cup.

A series of ugly political incidents between the two neighbouring
countries, in addition to the post-match conflict amongst both sets of fans,
left deep and lasting scars on the relations between the two countries, to
the extent that some in both countries were resorting to prayer to mend the
frosty relationship.

Elhadji Diouf played the video of the match in question and urged me to
watch it through and give him my opinion.  It was my first opportunity to
view the match, and I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw the Gambian
players refuse to shake hands with their Senegalese counterparts.  Before
the match started, Khalilou Fadiga, who captained Senegal on the night,
attempted to shake hands with Ebou Sillah, the Gambian captain. Sillah
openly refused to give Fadiga his hand.

Ironically, Fadiga and Sillah were team- mates between 1997-2000 at FC
Bruges in Belgium. The two were known to be good friends and Fadiga acted as
Sillah’s big brother when they played together in the Belgian league.  (This
reminds me of the current cordial relationship between Alassane Ndour and
Sekou Berthe, a Malian defender who now plays for Birmingham’s West Bromwich
Albion from Troyes FC in France.  Sekou’s apartment is next to Alassane’s
and Alassane is helping him to settle down in a new country.  Sekou Berthe
speaks no English whereas Alassane Ndour’s English is OK.  Alassane and
Sekou have a good bond and I would be surprised in future if the two ever
refused to shake hands because of a football match between their two
countries.)

Having watched the match through, I told Elhadji Diouf that I was shocked
and disappointed that the Gambian players had refused to shake hands with
the Senegalese team before the match.  Our conversation went on until the
early hours of the morning and Diouf came over as a friendly, open and
affable man, extremely generous with his time.  I explained to him that I
have a cousin in Senegal who would be dying to talk with him:  imagine my
surprise when he gave me his cell phone and told me to call my cousin !  My
cousin has still not recovered from the shock of talking to his hero Diouf
on the phone !

I reiterated to Diouf that Senegalese and Gambians were brothers and sisters
of the same blood, and that we should all do well to emulate the Gambian
singer Moussa Ngom, who has single-handedly championed the Senegambia cause.
At this point, Diouf expressed his surprise that Ngom was a Gambian – it was
news to him.  "Moussa Ngom is one of my favourite artists," he added, "I
didn’t know he was a Gambian brother.  I thought he was from Senegal."

After a very comfortable night’s sleep, we woke up to find that Diouf had
been up early for a morning training session, but he rejoined us in time for
lunch (a wonderful white benachin prepared by his fiancée Valerie).  Then
back to the business of the extended interview.  We talked around his dining
table, enjoying the view of his beautiful garden.

"How is life treating you in the UK ?", I asked him.  "Fine", he replied.
We talked in Wollof, punctuated with both French and English. Diouf’s
English has improved a lot !

From a very humble beginning in Dakar and St Louis in Senegal, Diouf is now
an African millionaire, reportedly earning over £30,000 pounds sterling a
week from Liverpool alone. I asked him about money, fame and family life.
He is a reminder to us all that with hard work, determination and
perseverance, combined with a good measure of talent, the sky is the limit –
anything can be achieved.

"I had a very tough beginning in life.  I was born on 15th January 1981 in
Dakar, but moved to St Louis, Ndarr, where I spent my childhood with my Mum.
  During this time, we often struggled to eat", Diouf revealed.

Diouf’s Senegalese Dad, now living in Portugal, reportedly left Diouf when
he was young and according to some accounts in the Senegalese media, the two
were not on talking terms until a few years ago, when there was a family
reconciliation.  He reportedly has contact with his Dad, but he clearly
adores his mother.

"I shall never forget what my mother did for me.  She did her best for me in
spite of all the difficulties, and she made sure that I survived a really
rough childhood.  This is why I am so happy to be in a financial position to
help her now and to take her to Mecca.  I'll make sure that she repeats the
Pilgrimage again.  Our mothers deserve our love and respect and should be
held with two arms, because they brought us to this earth", Diouf continued.

He added, "Perseverance and determination are the keys to success.  Yes, my
childhood was not easy, but I never gave up.  I was keen to become a
footballer and I was kicking a ball around in the sands of St Louis until my
talent was spotted and I had the chance to go and develop my soccer skills
in Sochaux in France.  From Sochaux I went to play for Rennes, before
finally moving to Lens in the French First Division."

"In Lens, I proved myself and became well-known in France.  I went to the
finals of the African Cup of Nations in Mali, but my climax was the 2002
World Cup in South Korea and Japan.  Our victory over France was one of my
finest and proudest moments in football.  It even became remarkable when we
became the first African team to reach the quarter finals of the World Cup.
Here, we showed that with hardwork, belief, dedication and determination,
anything may be achieved."

"Coming to England to play for a big club like Liverpool was an important
landmark in my career.  Signing for Liverpool was significant and it showed
me that my talents were being appreciated and recognised.  At the beginning,
it was not easy moving to England, to a new culture and a new language, but
I have since settled down well here.  I do miss France, but I have grown to
love Liverpool.  The fans are unbelievable and I am proud to play for such a
great club in such a great city".

"I have adjusted to life here and I have also won my place in Liverpool’s
starting line-up. I start every match now and  that shows that I have worked
hard to gain the trust and confidence of the Manager."

Asked about his wealth, Diouf remarked that it was important to remain
humble despite the money.

"Humility is a good virtue.  I thank God for all that He has done for me,
but life is very short and as such, we should be modest and kind.  One dies
and leaves all that wealth on earth.  What is important is to have respect
for each other and show love and benevolence towards each other".

I told him that I was surprised to see how humble and kind he was – a very
different picture from that normally painted of him.  Diouf had been charged
with spitting at a fan in Scotland in May 2003.

"Well, you see for yourself who I am.  I am always misrepresented by people
who do not know me.  I may be an extrovert, but I was well brought up.  I
have manners and respect for others."

I asked him about family life.

"I am happy with my partner Valerie, and we are lucky to have a beautiful
daughter, Kenza, who is now eight months old.  My daughter keeps me busy and
I always look forward to coming home to play with her.  The birth of my
daughter was an important landmark in my life. Fatherhood is important in
our culture.  I have a kind and helpful family and I thank God for it."

Diouf, who is a strict follower of Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, the founder of the
Mouride sect in Senegal, said that he believed in God and Mouridism, and as
such fears nothing with his football.

"Professional football, especially here in England, is a challenge but I am
ready for the challenge.  I want to be doing my best for my club, because
the fans are so fantastic and so loyal.  I wish you were here to watch us
play Manchester or Arsenal in our stadium:  you would take your hat off to
our fans !  The stadium vibrates with the noise and everyone would want to
play their best in such an atmosphere".

I asked Diouf about the Gambia/Senegal match and the troubles that followed
it.

"Those ugly incidents after the match were regrettable and unfortunate,
given the closeness between our two countries and peoples.  The Gambia and
Senegal share a lot in common and we are destined to live as neighbours and
as friends.  As such, we must learn to live together in spite of our
differences here and there.  You just told me that Moussa Ngom is a Gambian,
and he is well received and well hosted in Senegal."

"The Gambia-Senegal match was hyped by the fans and the media, and that
stirred up the trouble, but in future it will not happen again.  I have
great and loyal fans in The Gambia, and I appreciated and treasured all
their support during the World Cup.  This support continues in spite of that
post-match incident.  I am looking forward to returning to The Gambia again
and I want to say a big hello to all my fans there.  I hold no grudges and I
know you people also hold no grudges against us.  Look, we speak the same
language and we have the same names.  In The Gambia you have names such as
Elhadji, Moussa, Ebou, as we do likewise in Senegal," Diouf added.

"I shall do all that I can within the spirit of football to cement the
relationship between our two countries.  From now on, I would be more than
willing to give interviews to the Gambian media.  My doors are open to them,
and I will give you my two cell phone numbers.  The Press in The Gambia can
call me at any time and ask for an interview.  The Gambia is a beautiful
place and we once stayed at the Senegambia Beach Hotel when we were
preparing for a match against Algeria."

Asked about the forthcoming African Cup of Nations scheduled in Tunisia from
24th January 2004, Diouf explained that he was looking forward to it.

"We have a good and promising team and we hope and pray that we shall win
the cup.  We are amongst the favourites to win the trophy, but in football
nothing is certain!  Anything can happen. It would be wonderful to win the
Cup for Senegal, and take it to Dakar and St Louis to share it with our
devoted and loyal fans."

Diouf showed me the boots that Puma have designed for him specifically for
the Cup of Nations.  His daughter’s name – Kenza Diouf – is written on the
red boots which have newly-designed plastic studs.

Asked what his plans were when he retired from football, Diouf said that he
intends to buy a home in South Africa and live there with his family.

"Of course, I shall spend some time in Senegal where I already have some
homes.  Senegal is beautiful and I love my country, but I also intend to
live in South Africa one day in the future."

After the interview, Diouf autographed his Number 9 Jersey and presented it
to me.

A kind gesture from a kind man – and a fantastic West African footballer.

We can all be proud of our brother !


Ebrima Ceesay,
Birmingham, UK

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