Security-officers prevented journalists from having access to officials and players of the visiting team. No pictures of the team were allowed to be taken, a scenario that left journalists fuming and they threatened to boycott coverage of the team's tour in the country. As the matter seemed to be running out of hand, the Deputy Minister for Information, Culture and Sports Joel Bendera intervened and asked the security men to leave journalists to do their job.
However, several journalists maintained their stance that they would not cover the event because they are tired of being harassed by police whenever such big events occur in the country. "We are tired of being humiliated by police. They have no idea how the media operates. This tour is for the good of the nation. It requires maximum coverage to attract other countries to camp here, but we are surprised by the acts of police officers," lamented Selemani Mpochi, who is the Secretary General of the Tanzania Photojournalists Association.
Hundreds of soccer fans also thronged the airport to have a glimpse on the world top class players such as Chelsea strikers Didier Drogba and Solomon Kalou as well as Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue. But they could only cheer their idols from a distant after being ordered to stay away from the gates by the security officers. The team arrived at around 19:45 an hour behind original scheduled time and no security concern came apparent.
Players freely mingled with handful spectators most of them the workers of Tanzania Airport Authority (TAA), who had left their offices to take photos of the Ivory Coast stars. The Chelsea star, Drogba waved to fans as he posed for photo with Bendera and other officials. Few minutes later the players left the Airport to the Kilimanjaro Kempinski Hotel aboard Azam FC bus.
Despite all the hiccups most soccer fans vowed not to miss at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Monday, when the Ivoirians popularly known as ‘Elephants' clash against their hosts Taifa Stars. Majority have expressed obsession to see star striker Drogba. Speaking about the Ivory Coast tour in the country earlier on, Bendera said it would help promote Tanzania football as well as advertise the National Stadium ahead of the world cup finals in South Africa; "This tour is very important to our country's football as we strive to move forward, our players can learn and acquire good experience from high profile players in Ivory Coast squad."
Players in the squad are: Boubakar Barry, (Lokeren, Belgium), Aristide Zogbo (Makabi Netanya, Israel), Vincent De Paul Sngban (Asec Memosa, Ivory Coast), Kolo Toure (Manchester City, England) Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal, England) and Guy Demel (SV Hamburg, Germany). Others are Souleman Bamba (Hibernian, Scotland), Arthur Boka (VfB Stuttgart, Germany), Abdouleye Meite (West Bromwich, England) Siaka Tiene (Valenciene, France), Yahya Toure (Barcelona, Spain) Didier Zakora (Sevilla, Spain) and Emmanuel Kouamatien Kone (International Curtea, Romania), Cheik Imael Tiote (FC Twenty, Holland). Also in the squad are Emerse Fae (Nice, France), Jean-Janques Gosso Gosso (AS Monaco, France) Didier Drogba and Solomon Kalou (Chelsea, England), Bakari Kone (Marseille, France) Kadel Keita (Galatasaray, Turkey) Haruna Dindane (Portsmouth, England) and Gervais Yao (Koassi Lille, France). Boasnian coach Vahid Halihodzic will head the team.
Meanwhile Head coach Vahid Halilhodzic says he is worried about the freshness of Ivory Coast's main striker Didier Drogba. The Bosnian was speaking at a news conference before the team depart for their training camp in Tanzania.
He said: "Drogba has played two matches in three days plus the travel. If we're not careful he'll come to pieces. "I'm very worried about his freshness. He's committed to lots of things and has lots of ambition. He wants to win everything. (He's) playing too much."
Halilhodzic revealed that Drogba is nursing a slight ankle injury, but the Chelsea striker later told journalists that he is fit.