Depressed soccer star Eboue on suicide fears
THE suicide of his former international team-mate has haunted Emmanuel Eboue for the past two years.
Steve gohouri, a premier League star with wigan seven years ago, was found dead in January 2016 in germany’s river Rhine. he was just 34.
Now battling depression himself, eboue’s glory days as a Champions League finalist with Arsenal are a world away as he fights the demons that engulfed his friend. he said: “we played together for the ivory Coast team many years ago. he was depressed a lot. he killed himself. he killed himself.
“i did everything with him. he was playing for wigan in england. Then he went to germany. Then he went down into the leagues below. One day he couldn’t take it. he got into his car and drove into the sea.
“when he died i knew it was because of depression and so me, i was scared.
“Since i put his story in my head i have been determined not to do what he did. i pray every day. i want god to help me. i don’t want suicidal thoughts.”
The Mirror is fighting to end the stigma of mental illness through our Time To Change campaign.
eboue, 34, is speaking out in a bid to inspire other sufferers and to get the help he needs to overcome his issues.
he is ready to work with mental health organisations and refutes suggestions he has hit rock bottom.
eboue added: “i have my health. i haven’t died. i am not down. i have to be open because i saw some of my friends, they were depressed like me.
“They didn’t get support and they died. we are human beings. Of course, you can earn big money. But if you are not strong in your head, money is nothing. when you are depressed money cannot cure you.” in the past 14 months, eboue has lost his grandfather and brother.
The Sunday Mirror revealed on Christmas eve a bitter divorce from wife Aurelie left him broke and he will soon be homeless. he has not seen her or his three children aged 14, 12 and nine for six months. And his hopes of a return to Head in hands
Gohouri playing for Wigan in 2010. Right, sunday Mirror story on Eboue’s plight
premier League football were dashed this year when fifa banned him over a dispute with his former agent. But to walk the streets of enfield in North London with eboue is to witness the affection in which he is still held by Arsenal fans, six years after he quit for Turkish club galatasaray.
Yet he revealed he is so embarrassed at his plight he avoids the area around the emirates stadium in case he is spotted by supporters.
he said: “i have to hide because my situation is very, very difficult.
“Before i was high on the third floor. Now i am on the ground floor. i can see that i am going down.
“people have in their heads an image of emmanuel eboue. The name. i know that people respected me. So when they see me on the bus i have to lie to them to say: ‘No, no, no, it is not me’ . Yes, i have to lie. i feel ashamed. i feel embarrassed.” eboue wants to advise young African players – as well as the wider footballing contingent – of the need for appropriate support.
he said: “it’s not easy to talk. But i want to tell players in the same situation as me about finance, divorce, the job. everything. it’s better to talk. Don’t keep it in. Because when you keep it in you kill yourself. i want them to listen to me carefully and follow my example.”