Twice African Footballer of the Year award winner, Elhadji Ousseynou Diouf, has spoken to the Daily Observer on his football career that took him to top clubs in France and England.
The controversial forward had a great footballing career and after spearheading little fancied Senegal’s run to the quarterfinals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan, where they defeated then world champions France, it earned him a £10m move to Liverpool, paving the way for an influx of Senegalese footballers making their way to the most popular league in the world.
The ex-Bolton Wanderers, Leeds United and Rangers forward, received numerous bans in his playing career due to his poor disciplinary record, but his exceptional talent and trickery on the ball has never been doubted. He had bags full on tricks and pace, and was one of the fastest players of his generation. Diouf, on his day, could turn out to be nightmares for defenders and is still remembered for running France’s Frank Leboeuf ragged during that World Cup.
2002 FIFA World Cup
After coming through the ranks at Sochaux and Rennes, Diouf moved to Lens in the summer of 2000, the same year he made his Senegalese debut and finished as the leading scorer of the African qualifiers for the 2002 World Cup with 11 goals. He also played a crucial role in Senegal’s run to the 2002 African Cup of Nations finals where they lost to Cameroon in a post-match penalty shootout, but was still voted the African Footballer of the Year for the second year after his 2001 triumph.
Reflecting on the opening game of the World Cup, where a Pap Bouba Diop scrambled goal secured a shock 1-0 defeat of France, Diouf attributed the success at the time to determination and self-confidence in the players.
“For me I took soccer as a profession and before we went to World Cup, not many knew of Senegal. Our generation had the belief that we could help Senegal with our professionalism. It is quite important to have self-confidence in whatever you do and that helped us to win France,” he relived the moment.
Speaking further, Diouf said looking back at his career, he has nothing to regret, noting that everything happens for a reason. “Today when I go to bed I sleep well because I have done all that I was supposed to do in football; being an African and No.7 in the world [after 2002 World Cup], being part of the 100 best footballers at the time and among the five players to make a mark in the World Cup,” an unapologetic Diouf affirmed.
The former Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland star said he has worked for himself, his family and Senegal, while encouraging the young players in The Gambia to be committed and focused on their career. “Sports is no longer about pleasure; it’s a real business that needs much focus.”
Playing in the Premier League
When Diouf was signed by Gerard Houllier for the Reds, it was his impressive performances in Korea and Japan which led to much excitement among Liverpool fans on his arrival. He was the striker Houllier had hoped would wrestle the Premier League title from Manchester United, after the Merseysiders had finished in second place the previous season but after an impressive start to his Anfield career with a brace on his debut in a 3-0 home win over Southampton, Diouf became unpopular among the Liverpool fans mainly due to his lack of goals and among other issues and was shipped out to Bolton in the summer of 2005.
He also had a fractured relationship with Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, the cornerstones of Liverpool’s recent success, but is still adored among the Bolton faithful.
“I did what was probably wrong, I spat on people because I was angry and because I was equally young at the time. I am grown up now and there are so many things that I cannot do now. Even my children do ask me the same question but they know there father was a hot-tempered someone. However, that has helped me achieve what I have achieved today because I never allowed anyone to disrespect me. I have played in the West until I left there no one has ever disrespected me and no one will ever disrespect me,” Diuof stressed.
He urged those who have called him all sorts of names throughout his very successful career, to look back upon the positives he has done for his country and Africa. “Despite all the negative attributions I have never gone to jail nor did I do something a bad boy would do,” he emphasised.
Relationship with Jules Bocande
Diouf added that Senegalese international, the late Jules Bocande, had also played a big role in his success. He described himself next to Bocande in terms of superstar status for Senegal’s National Team, bringing back memories when Pele once described himself as the King of Brazil and Robinho as the Prince.
“Bocande was a father, brother and friend and everything. He was the first to tell me that I could achieve something no Senegalese had ever achieved. He told me that I could be the first Senegalese to win the African Player of the Year because I possessed everything,” he added.
“Bocande is No.1 and I am No.2 and he was a good man. The only thing that pains me about Bocande is that Senegal or Africans would only wait until you are no more then they start celebrating your success. You have to celebrate someone when he is alive.”
While praying for the souls of Bocande and Bruno Metsu, the French coach, who together with Bocande played instrumental roles in redefining Senegal’s recent football future, Diouf admitted that Metsu also had a special relationship with the 2002 World Cup squad.
“I have worked with different managers and coaches, but the relationship with Bocande and Bruno Metsu were special,” he concluded.
Metsu was a naturalised Senegalese and baptised to Islam after marrying in the West African country. Following his death in the Middleeast, his body was repatriated to Senegal for burial.
by Alieu Ceesay