Yaya Touré take im time. As trainer of Slovan Bratislava, end of August for Instagram, he praise the ‘together’ qualification for Champions League. He talk say e proud to be African. For im home country Ivory Coast, headlines na about first African head coach for Champions League. News portal In Côte d’Ivoire write say the achievement na milestone for African coaches wey want stand for top level of European club football. Touré play 97 times for national team.
Touré first Champions League game end 1-6 against title holder Paris Saint-Germain. E no reduce the meaning of the big moment. Wednesday 21:00, home premiere against VfB Stuttgart. More than 15 years ago, Touré show im superiority on pitch. Last time he meet the Swabians for Champions League, he control midfield for FC Barcelona when Pep Guardiola still be coach. For 4-0 round of 16 second leg in 2010, Touré provide two assists, show im reputation as attacking midfielder. End of season, he lift the trophy with the almost unbeatable Catalans around Lionel Messi.
The winning mentality wey e sharpen for Barcelona and later Manchester City, Touré want pass am on. The passion, the determination, he want share, Touré talk. Dem award am African Footballer of the Year four times. But Touré know say im experience as top player alone no go enough. Footballers dey usually seen as small crazy, the 43-year-old talk. But e himself must show seriousness early, from im first station for Belgium as 18-year-old reach European top class. My father dey military, respect and punctuality important to am, the Ivorian explain. Now e dey take im coaching job serious. I dey start very early and dey go very late. But na so football be for me, na wetin e teach me.
E no even reach one month, Touré use im first head coach job write history. Beginning of July dem present am for Bratislava, end of month follow Champions League qualification through play-offs. Now hard reality catch am: no be only im Champions League debut for Paris go wrong, e also dey fourth place for domestic league with the champion. But even if Touré continue to stumble with Bratislava, as pathfinder e don already do well for im African home.
If VfB Stuttgart today dey Champions League against Slovan Bratislava, one true Champions League legend sit on the bench of the Slovaks. Because Yaya Touré (43) since this summer na coach of the Belasi. The four-time African Footballer of the Year win the competition as player and now e want annoy Stuttgart. After the season Touré take over the record champion of Slovakia. Na im first station as head coach and straight Champions League. The debut against reigning winner Paris Saint-Germain fail on first matchday 1-6, but for the home premiere the favourite suppose get trouble. For uefa.com the Ex-Barça star show gratitude for the job: I really thank the club leadership of Slovan Bratislava say dem give me this chance. Dem see person inside me wey get the will, person wey mean business. The ambition from im playing career, the former midfielder never lose am on bench: If you start to run after ball young like me, e no dey stop suddenly. Because you always get this discipline, this attitude. I dey start very early and dey go very late home, but na exactly wetin football mean for me, na wetin football teach me. I want share my experience with players, my ambition, my determination and my winning mentality. Yaya Touré na legend for im home country, Ivory Coast. He lead im country 2015 as captain to win Africa Cup. Before that he already win Champions League and Spanish championship with FC Barcelona. During the period wey financial scandal affect, the Ivorian win English championship three times with Manchester City.
