Didier Drogba 'devastated' by 'lies' amid allegations about his charity work

M

: Drogba has hit back

Didier Drogba has been left “heartbroken and devastated” by the slurs against his charity work.

Ivory Coast international Drogba, 38, says he deliberately put £3.7m of his own money up front first to help sick children in Africa so if it fails then he will lose out rather than the supporters of his Foundation.

Former Chelsea striker Drogba says his Foundation has already provided a mobile clinic, invested in orphanages, and funded the purchase of school bags, books and a dialysis machine.

Drogba denies any wrongdoing and says the “lies” surrounding his Foundation will put the health and welfare of children in danger.

Drogba said: “It’s the biggest challenge of my life, one of the hardest days of my life but it’s a fight I will win Drogba said: “It’s the biggest challenge of my life, one of the hardest days of my life but it’s a fight I will win.

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Visiting Jules Vernes School

“They are targeting me for whatever reason but the sad truth is that these sort of lies will endanger the kids that I’m trying to help.

“My whole point is that I wanted to put my own money in first before anything from donors, sponsorship or anything we raised. That was if I fail, then I will fail, and no-one else. All my money I have put in has been from my personal sponsorship deals.

“The money is still there, it’s not been wasted, it hasn’t gone missing, we’ve actually been very careful to make sure the money goes to the right people, the right places and, above all, helps the children.”

Drogba set up the Foundation in 2007 to try and give something back to his native Ivory Coast after enduring a poor and tough upbringing.

His Foundation did set up a UK account which has laid on balls and fund raising events which is something Drogba insists is absolutely necessary to attract top celebrities and collect big money. It has been claimed more than £400,000 was spent on events.

But these events have raised nearly £2million, Drogba claims.

 

“We want to make sure the money goes to the right causes not just now but makes an impact for generations to come,” said Drogba.

“It is my passion to have an impact on my community, help the society I am from and make a difference for the children.

“These sort of wrong and damaging allegations can threaten and destroy lives as well as undo all of our work.

"I set up the charity in the Ivory Coast but when I was playing in England. We decided to do some fundraising there also. But the Foundation has always been and remains one entity.

“The balls and fund raising events are necessary, my team mates and others have been incredibly generous.

“Imagine how they feel when they see this. They know me, they know I am passionate about my charity work. But for sponsors who do not know me, this is incredibly damaging and wrong.

“The hardest and most heartbreak part of all is that it os wrong. When I grew up, I always told my mum that I wanted to be a doctor. I wanted to make a difference on children’s lives because I could see the poverty from where I came from.

“It was only because of my uncle who took me to Europe that I was able to become successful, play football, but my passion even then was not about money.

“I knew I had an opportunity to be successful, to be famous and recognisable across different Continents. It wasn’t about the fame but it did allow me to raise money, make a difference and that’s always been my goal.

“If it was purely for the fame or the money then I would just carry on playing and score goals. But there are more important things to achieve.

“What drives me is to help children, help their lives, their education and their health. I believe I can make a difference but things like these are designed to try and stop that. That is what hurts the most. It’s not me they are affecting, but the children.”