Johan Djourou
Arsenal and Swiss team defender Johan Djourou welcomed swissinfo into his London apartment for a friendly meeting infused with the rhythm of his native Africa.
Born in Abidjan in the Ivory Coast 21 years ago, Djourou grew up in Geneva. His football career has now brought him to London.
It is a grey Tuesday morning in February, not unusual for London. In the city centre, young women take advantage of the mild temperatures to wear miniskirts and open-toed shoes.
But as the Underground stations on the Piccadilly line continue, the women are replaced by young immigrants, baseball caps tipped at an angle and personal stereos blaring in their ears. At Arnos Grove, a metallic voice announces that this train is not going any further.
A few kilometres away in a complex situated in the middle of a large verdant park, John Djourou opens the door to his apartment. Smiling as ever, he is dressed in a white T-shirt and is relaxing after training.
The apartment has large, light spaces, beautiful wood details on the ceiling and warm colours. Dotted around are works by African artists that are a joy to behold. A stuffed white tiger, that dominates the middle of the room, came from a fairground.
African roots
“Those who know me, know that even though I feel Swiss, Africa occupies an enormous place in my heart,” confides Djourou, giving a sly glance at his girlfriend Emilie who came to join him in the English capital.
“I need these colours in my daily life to feel Africa. I listen to an enormous amount of African music, I dance a lot and I love eating African food – with my hands, because that reminds me of watching my father eat when I was a child.”
His favourite dishes are plantain or his grandmother’s coucous with spinach sauce. This is complemented by dishes prepared by the wife of another Arsenal teammate from the Ivory Coast, Kolo Toure.
“For music and DVDs made in Africa, Eboue [the third Ivory Coast defender at the English club] is in charge.”
While evoking his origins – his native land that he hopes to revisit as soon as possible – the athletic defender’s voice is full of emotion – strong emotion.
“My biological mother, my little brother and my big sister still live there. I left with my father when I was not even 17-months-old. Five years ago, I visited all the family in Abidjan, but also in Yamoussoukro and Bouaké. My adoptive mother, Danièle, and my brother were also there. The human warmth, the gaiety, the savannah – it’s crazy.”
Very fast, very high
“Crazy” is also the adjective that best describes the stellar career path of footballer Johan Djourou.
He was spotted at the age of 16 while playing for the Swiss third tier side Etoile Carouge while attending the Swiss Football Association training centre in Payerne, and was integrated into the Arsenal “machine” a few months later.
“I can’t deny the disorientation or the immense loss I felt while being away from my loved ones. But ever since I was young I have lived and breathed football. I knew that one day I would realise my dream, it was a way of getting there,” he said.
Four years later, he is not only playing with his club, but also for the Swiss national team, making his debut just before the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
“It was against Scotland on March 1 and we were outplaying them 3 to 1. I still get goosebumps thinking about that moment. To play in the national jersey, for your country, is really a unique feeling,” he reminisced.
Red jersey with a white cross
Johan Djourou has no regrets about resisting pressure from his fellow Ivory Coast teammates to endorse the national jersey of that country.
“I never had to make a choice. I am Swiss, that’s obvious for me. And the attacks that came out in the press about the colour of my skin won’t change anything,” he insisted.
John Djourou took part in the World Cup in Germany an in June he will wear his country’s colours for Euro 2008. It is an event for which he is preparing but without fixating on it too much.
As the interview is winding up, he said: “I’m only 21 and I think the best is yet to come.”
swissinfo, Matthias Froidevaux in London
Date and place of birth: Abidjan (Ivory Coast), January 18, 1987.
Position: centre back or full back.
Clubs: Carouge (1996-2003), Arsenal from 2004 (on loan to Birmingham for six months in 2007) – on contract until 2012.
Swiss team: Debut on March 1, 2006 against Scotland (3-1 win); 16 caps and one goal (at the end of 2007).
Johan Djourou was a member of the Swiss squad for the 2006 World Cup in Germany
He is the first international to have graduated from a training centre, in this case Payerne.
Arsenal football club was founded in 1886 by the workers of the Royal Arsenal arms factory, from which the players took their name: the “Gunners”.
Arsenal has won 13 English championship titles and taken home the FA Cup 10 times.
On the European stage, Arsenal had its name inscribed as European Cup winners in 1994 and on the UEFA Cup in 1970.
In 2006, the London club came close to winning the Champion’s League only to be beaten in the final by Barcelona FC (1-2).
Arsenal, the current leader of the English championships, have been managed for more than 10 years by the French trainer Arsene Wenger. It was Wenger who brought over Djourou and fellow Swiss defender Philippe Senderos. The club’s home has been the new 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium since 2006.
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