Having had a revival in fortunes towards the end of the 2006 – 2007 season, the strong man from the Ivory Coast has had a lot to smile about going into Saturday’s Vodacom Challenge encounter against English Premier League team Tottenham Hotspur. The reason for Djiehoua’s happiness is that when game time approaches in Durban he will be renewing an acquaintance with his old friend and current Ivory Coast national team player Didier Zakora.

Zakora who joined Tottenham at the start of the 2006 – 2007 season from French Ligue 1 team St Ettiene has been a hit at White Hart Lane - in his first season in London Zakora has played in 42 competitive matches for Spurs and has become somewhat of a fans favorite. Serge has long been an admirer of the twenty six year old midfielder and cannot wait to get out onto to the field and battle Zakora described by many as one of the best central midfielders in Africa.

Long standing friendship

The Amakhosi striker Serge Djiehoua first struck up a friendship with Zakora way back in 1995 when the two of them were together at the famous ASEC Mimosa academy. Zakora left shortly after that to further his career in Europe with Belgium side Genk and thereafter St Ettiene in France before joining Spurs after a number of impressive displays with the Ivory Coast national team at last years’ FIFA World Cup in Germany landed him a contract at Spurs.

In the meanwhile Serge and Zakora have remained close friends and met as recently as a month ago when the pair were on the off-season break and were spending some leisure time in the Ivory Coast.

Djiehoua who has always enjoyed Zakora’s company is hopeful that he will get to spend some time showing Didier the sights and sounds of South Africa and cannot wait for the opportunity to meet up with and run at his countryman.

Commenting on their impending meeting in Durban, Serge speaking to kaizerchiefs.com added “Didier called me on Sunday and we spoke for a couple of minutes and he wanted to confirm that they were playing against us. I confirmed it for him and like myself he is excited about the trip to South Africa”.

On the field Serge is ready to do all that it takes to make sure that Zakora has a very tough induction to South Africa - but once the game is over he is looking forward to socializing with his friend of more than a decade.

Added Serge “Zakora is a tough player,he is a no nonsense player who commits to every tackle and I like playing against players like him. It is going to be a tough assignment against him but I believe I am ready to give him a tough day at the office. Once the game is over, if we have the chance to, I will show him just why I love South Africa so much, and give him a short tour of Durban on Sunday”.

Much respect

Serge is full of praise for Zakora adding that the 26 year old has done a lot to restore the pride of Ivorian football, in addition he is one of the flag bearers for African football in Europe with his outstanding performances for Tottenham Hotspur week in and week out.

Djiehoua said of Zakora’s immense talents as a footballer “a few years ago the Ivorian national team was not doing too well. Thanks to players like Zakora,Ivory Coast is now once again a recognized football nation again.

Many people know about Didier Drogba, but in my eyes Zakora as done an equal amount to bring respect to Ivorian football in recent years.

With Chiefs aiming for a fifth Vodacom Challenge title Serge believes that fans attending the game at the ABSA Stadium will be in for a real treat on Saturday, and should not pass up on the opportunity of seeing one of the most talented African players plying his trade in the English Premier League live in Durban.

The Chiefs strong man said “I would like to urge the fans to purchase tickets and come down to the ABSA Stadium, we looking forward to the game and I know it will be an exciting affair. Like I said earlier I have a lot of admiration for Zakora he played outstandingly well during last years’ Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt as well as the FIFA World Cup, he had a good first season in the English Premier League.

The fans will really get their full value along with Didier, Spurs have a number of other good players, and as a striker I would be looking forward to trying to beat Spurs England international goalkeeper Paul Robinson”.