England-based striker Wilfried Bony recalled how Tiote had been a mentor figure for him when he first started playing for the Elephants.<\/p>\n
“From the beginning when I joined the team in 2010, he was one of the first players who came and talked to me about how to be here, my attitude, how to train, how I need to react with the other players.<\/p>\n
“And Tiote was a player who loved to win who loved to be first, he never wanted to lose. He wanted always to be the best,” said Bony.<\/p>\n
Ivorian Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly was joined by Ivorian Sports Minister Albert Amichia and President of the Ivorian football federation Augustin Sidy Diallo at the funeral in Abidjan as the country paid its last respects to its former international midfielder.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n