Kodjovi Obilale
Encyclopedia
Kodjovi Dodji Obilalé is a Togo
lese former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He last played for French amateur club GSI Pontivy
. His career was cut short after he was severely injured in a bus attack against the Togolese team that took place in the Cabinda Province, Angola
just days before the start of the 2010 African Cup of Nations
.
, Obilalé began his career with Chamois Niortais before signed a contract with FC Lorient
in 2003. After one year in Lorient turned back to Togo and signed a contract with Étoile Filante de Lomé
, where he played for three years. In July 2006 he returned to France moved to CS Quéven, where he played 39 games in one and a half years, before leaving the club in the summer of 2008 to sign a contract with GSI Pontivy
.
, and was called up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup
. Obilalé was the only member of the World Cup squad to play for a club in Togo. He was capped five times by Togo in 2009.
, just after they had crossed the Congo border. Obilalé was one of the two players who were reported to have bullet wounds. Defender Serge Akakpo
, was the other player confirmed to have been shot. The driver of the bus was killed during the attack and the assistant coach and a spokesperson later died from their wounds. Later, Obilalé was reported dead by some sources including MSNBC.com; such reports were later dismissed by his club GSI Pontivy
in a press announcement, stating the player was undergoing surgery in South Africa
instead. Recent updates suggest that Obilalé's condition has improved following the shootout, and that he is "recovering well."
On March 2010 Obilalé returned to France to continue his rehabilitation at the Kerpape centre in Lorient
; later on July he confirmed that, as a consequence of the shooting, he was still suffering serious walking problems, and that he did not think about football anymore. On 30 July 2010 his contract with French football club Pontivy expired, and he admitted he was under serious financial issues, also announcing he was going to denounce the Togo football federation on the grounds of it having forgotten his situation. Same concerns were raised by a number of other former fellow players, including world star Emmanuel Adebayor
who, according to Obilalé, regularly calls him and helps him financially on his own.
On 26 July 2010 Obilalé was homaged to take the kick-off during a friendly game between FC Lorient
and Stade Rennais F.C., which was organized in order to raise funds for the rehabilitation structure where he was recovered. The game was attended by more than 3,000 people.
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
lese former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He last played for French amateur club GSI Pontivy
GSI Pontivy
GSI Pontivy is a French football club based in Pontivy . It was founded in 1935. They play at the Stade Municipal du Faubourg de Verdun, which has a capacity of 3,200...
. His career was cut short after he was severely injured in a bus attack against the Togolese team that took place in the Cabinda Province, Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
just days before the start of the 2010 African Cup of Nations
2010 African Cup of Nations
The 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, also known as the Orange Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship reasons, was the 27th Africa Cup of Nations, the biennial football championship of Africa...
.
Club career
Born in LoméLomé
Lomé, with an estimated population of 737,751, is the capital and largest city of Togo. Located on the Gulf of Guinea, Lomé is the country's administrative and industrial center and its chief port. The city exports coffee, cocoa, copra, and palm kernels...
, Obilalé began his career with Chamois Niortais before signed a contract with FC Lorient
FC Lorient
Football Club Lorient-Bretagne Sud is a French association football club based in Lorient. The club was founded in 1926 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Lorient plays its home matches at the Stade du Moustoir located within the city. The team is managed by Christian...
in 2003. After one year in Lorient turned back to Togo and signed a contract with Étoile Filante de Lomé
Étoile Filante de Lomé
Étoile Filante de Lomé is a professional Togolese football club based in Lomé. Their home stadium is Stade Oscar Anthony. The club name translates as "Shooting Star of Lomé" and are known locally as "The Meteors"....
, where he played for three years. In July 2006 he returned to France moved to CS Quéven, where he played 39 games in one and a half years, before leaving the club in the summer of 2008 to sign a contract with GSI Pontivy
GSI Pontivy
GSI Pontivy is a French football club based in Pontivy . It was founded in 1935. They play at the Stade Municipal du Faubourg de Verdun, which has a capacity of 3,200...
.
International career
Obilalé is a former member of the national teamTogo national football team
The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers (The Sparrow Hawks, is controlled by the Fédération Togolaise de Football.They played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Their team bus...
, and was called up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
. Obilalé was the only member of the World Cup squad to play for a club in Togo. He was capped five times by Togo in 2009.
2010 African Cup of Nations shooting
On January 8, a bus carrying the Togo national football team to the African Cup of Nations was fired at by a group of rebel terrorists of Cabinda Province, AngolaAngola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, just after they had crossed the Congo border. Obilalé was one of the two players who were reported to have bullet wounds. Defender Serge Akakpo
Serge Akakpo
Serge Ognadon Akakpo is a Togolese footballer. He plays at centre back for NK CM Celje in the Slovenian First League.-Career:...
, was the other player confirmed to have been shot. The driver of the bus was killed during the attack and the assistant coach and a spokesperson later died from their wounds. Later, Obilalé was reported dead by some sources including MSNBC.com; such reports were later dismissed by his club GSI Pontivy
GSI Pontivy
GSI Pontivy is a French football club based in Pontivy . It was founded in 1935. They play at the Stade Municipal du Faubourg de Verdun, which has a capacity of 3,200...
in a press announcement, stating the player was undergoing surgery in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
instead. Recent updates suggest that Obilalé's condition has improved following the shootout, and that he is "recovering well."
On March 2010 Obilalé returned to France to continue his rehabilitation at the Kerpape centre in Lorient
Lorient
Lorient, or L'Orient, is a commune and a seaport in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France.-History:At the beginning of the 17th century, merchants who were trading with India had established warehouses in Port-Louis...
; later on July he confirmed that, as a consequence of the shooting, he was still suffering serious walking problems, and that he did not think about football anymore. On 30 July 2010 his contract with French football club Pontivy expired, and he admitted he was under serious financial issues, also announcing he was going to denounce the Togo football federation on the grounds of it having forgotten his situation. Same concerns were raised by a number of other former fellow players, including world star Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor
Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor is a Togolese footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur as a striker on loan from Manchester City. He plays in the same position for the Togo national team. Adebayor previously played for Metz, Monaco and Arsenal and was voted African Footballer of the Year for 2008...
who, according to Obilalé, regularly calls him and helps him financially on his own.
On 26 July 2010 Obilalé was homaged to take the kick-off during a friendly game between FC Lorient
FC Lorient
Football Club Lorient-Bretagne Sud is a French association football club based in Lorient. The club was founded in 1926 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Lorient plays its home matches at the Stade du Moustoir located within the city. The team is managed by Christian...
and Stade Rennais F.C., which was organized in order to raise funds for the rehabilitation structure where he was recovered. The game was attended by more than 3,000 people.