Drogba Won't Leave & International Friendlies

Didier Drogba is a favorite of this blog.
I started off not liking the Ivorian international, but anyone who has read the blog knows his humanitarian side and skillful play won me over.

Now comes word that on the heels of Jose Mourinho leaving Drogba's club team Chelsea, the leading scorer of last season's English Premier League won't be looking to leave.

"I am not considering quitting Chelsea, I have a contract which I will follow through. I feel other players will feel the same way too," Drogba explained.

"I will decide on my next step of action when the time is right and I get an offer.

"As footballers we obey our contract and concentrate on building our career. We'll miss Mourinho though."

Not the highest endorsement, I know. But as least this will cool Chelsea fans' heads some, who thought the Mourinho supporters would look to jump ship with the captain.
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Some international friendles involving our friends from Africa to announce.

First up, Mexico will host Nigeria at the Estadio Olympico Benito Juarez in Ciudad de Juarez on October 14th.

It will be the Super Eagles’ first trip to the central American country since the 1968 Olympics, when African countries participated at the games with full international sides.

Nigeria play Mexico for the third time, having drawn 1-1 at the Inter Continental Championship in Saudi Arabia in 1995 and again a few months later when Mexico won 2-1 in Dallas during the US Cup.
Should be fun.

Next up, my home country the United States flies to South Africa for a first-ever trip to the World Cup host nation for a friendly in November. Now this sounds tasty!

The match, the annual Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup, will be played at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on November 17th.

The game will be played just eight days ahead of the preliminary draw for the 2010 World Cup.

"It's a great honor to be invited to participate," US coach Bob Bradley said.

"South Africa has always had a talented team and the match represents an excellent opportunity for our players to travel and play in South Africa."

The Americans defeated South Africa 4-0 at Washington in 2000 in their only prior meeting.

It will be only the third match in Africa for the Americans, who lost 3-1 at Morocco in 1992 and 2-1 at Morocco in 1999 exactly eight years to the day before the scheduled South Africa match.