[ 2011-08-08 ]

African stars aim to prove their worth at Premier League
LONDON (AFP) - Didier Drogba and his African
team-mates go into the new Premier League season
determined to convince Chelsea manager Andre
Villas-Boas they deserve to be part of the club's
future.

Villas-Boas has promised to give everyone a chance
to impress after his close-season arrival at
Stamford Bridge and that will be music to the ears
of Drogba, Salomon Kalou, John Obi Mikel and
Michael Essien.

But although the Portuguese coach is only 33 --
the same age as Drogba -- his rapid rise to the
top has been characterised by tremendous
self-belief, which suggests he wouldn't hesitate
to dump even seasoned performers like the Ivory
Coast striker.

If he sticks with his favoured 4-3-3 formation
there will only be room for one of either Drogba
or £50 million signing Fernando Torres as the
attacking spearhead, yet the Ivorian is sure he
can win the battle and then convince Villas-Boas
to extend a contract which expires in June.

"That's the manager's choice but it's been like
this for me for all my years here," Drogba said.

"It was the same when Eidur Gudjohnsen and Andrei
Shevchenko were here and all of the other times.
It's nothing new and it's good for the team to
have some competition.

"I'm 33, I'm the oldest player and it feels
strange but I'm not worried. If I deserve to play
then I will play.

"I said a few years ago that I will be here until
the end of my contract and I am here. I want to
finish my career at Chelsea."

Nigerian midfielder Mikel, Ivory Coast forward
Kalou and Ghana midfielder Essien also go into the
new campaign will reasons to fret over their
futures.

Mikel has yet to fulfil the potential that made
Chelsea outbid Manchester United to sign him,
while Kalou has never been able to hold down a
regular first-team place.

Essien will spend the next six months recovering
from knee surgery after the third serious knee
injury of his career.

Across London, Drogba's compatriot Gervinho will
be expected to add directness and power to an
Arsenal attack often guilty of over-elaboration.

The £10 million signing fired Lille to the French
title last season and in the process convinced
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger that he was the right
man to fill the void left by Togo forward Emmanuel
Adebayor's sale two years ago.

Gervinho's impressive form in pre-season suggests
he could be an ideal foil for Robin van Persie.
Wenger certainly thinks so.

"Gervinho is a good addition to our squad," he
said. "He is very interesting because he gives us
options on both sides and through the middle. He
can integrate well with our team."

Arsenal may be in a state of flux at present, but
there can be no doubting Manchester City's title
credentials after another close-season spending
spree.

Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure -- the club's FA
Cup star after winning goals in the semi-final and
final last season -- is adamant City are ready to
overhaul Manchester United as champions.

"We have to make a statement from the start. The
most important thing is that the team shows Man
City are coming," said Yaya, whose brother Kolo
should return from a drugs ban in September.

"We have to show United we are here. We are going
to have to fight to show people that City are
going all the way to the top."

Meanwhile, West Bromwich Albion's Nigerian striker
Peter Odemwingie aims to prove that last season's
prolific form was no fluke, as does Sunderland's
Ghana forward Asamoah Gyan.

Source - AFP

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