`Before the British broadcasting co-operation (BBC) dropped the names of five African players for the BBC African player of ...
`Before the British broadcasting co-operation
(BBC) dropped the names of five African players for the BBC African player of
the year award, many people were expecting to see a Nigerian on the list.
Bet getting to see the names of John
Obi Mikel and Victor Moses must have gladdened the hearts of millions of
Nigerians. Both players were very instrumental in making Nigerian win the
nation’s cup for the third time in February; they were also part of the CHELSEA squad that won the Europa
league last season. MOSES made a big move from Wigan Athletic to join CHELSEA
FOOTBALL club in England, he scored in both home and away fixtures against FC Basel
in the semi-final stage of the Europa league. Just before the beginning of the
season, he got a loan move to Liverpool Fc where he hasn’t done badly as well.
For mikel, many Nigerians will tell you that for the very first time in eight
years, they are beginning to see the attacking quality that made two big clubs
(MANCHESTER UNITED AND CHELSEA) jostle for his signature back then. The young
man has been able to marshal our attacking midfield with the same energy we saw
during his u-20 world cup days in Holland. After scoring in the FIFA
confederations cup, he also got his first ever goal in the English premier
league recently. Other nominees for the award are JONATHAN PITROIPA of
BURKINA-FASO, PIERRE-EMERRE AUBUMEYANG of GABON, and YAYA TOURE of COTE’D
IVORE.
However, it might interest you to know
that whoever gets to win the BBC African footballer of the year award usually
doesn’t win the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) African footballer of
the year award. While some have said that the BBC award is the most authentic
because it is the fans that get to vote for the players, unlike the CAF award
where the coaches and captains of members of countries vote for the players.
Some other people have said it’s the captains and coaches who participate in
the game that really knows the players unlike a situation where anybody can
just vote for any player that they prefer even if such a player doesn’t deserve
the award.
Lastly, if I am to advise you to vote,
it will be for VICTOR MOSES so that MIKEL will have a better chance of winning
CAF’S African footballer of the year award early next year. After all, it is
not a sin for Nigeria to win both awards.
By: SEGUN ODUNAYO
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