Drogba Wins Hearts on Super League Debut in China

Football ace Didier Drogba won the hearts of fans here on his debut in China’ Super League. “I am happy that everything went right in my first 45 minutes here,” he told China’s (Xinhua) news agency after helping Shanghai Shenhua achieve an away draw against Guangzhou R and F here on Sunday. “It was a little bit hard for me to get into the game at the beginning, but when I got used to the rhythm, I began to enjoy the game,” the Cote d’Ivoire striker said. “I am feeling good now and was accustomed to all things in China now. It is very comfortable playing alongside my former teammate Nicole (Anelka),” he added. The 34-year old arrived in China a week ago, sealing a deal that reportedly worth 200,000 pounds a week, making him the highest-paid player in China and among the top worldwide. The fans already went crazy when he arrived and couldn’ t wait for his debut. But Shenhua’ s coach Batista reserved the 34-year old until the away match against Guangzhou R and F. But it was Guangzhou who enjoyed a dream start as Shenhua offered an own goal in the beginning of the match. However, Shenhua’s trailing became good news for the fans as Shenhua coach Batista called up Drogba to make preparations early in the 40th minutes. The 34-year old, wearing his No.11 jersey, finally came to the field at the start of the second half. Only at the third minute of his CSL career Drogba tested Guangzhou’s keeper with a curving free-kick. He made another three shots with two of them on target. “Drogba maintained a nice feel of the ball, the way he plays is a nightmare for a keeper,” said Guangzhou’s keeper Cheng Yuelei, who was under great pressure every time Drogba possessed the ball.  The 34-year old brought the match to climax by dishing out a pinpoint through pass into the box to see Cao Yunding made it home easily for Shanghai Shenhua.