Another Anglophone Loss and a Francophone Win!

The stakes were high and fingers crossed not only in Ghana (were incessant attempt to name one of her sons as the best player in football on the African continent has been a chase of the mirage bird); but rather across Africa and the globe at large. In the Diaspora, many were those who surfed the world wide web in such for a live streaming of the event as it unfolds live from Cairo—the 2010 Glo CAF African Player of the Year Award. I am also confident that in Ghana, fans were glued to their TV set trying to catch every second of that moment when Asamoah Gyan (widely predicted) was to be crowned the Best Player for the year 2010. However, by the kind courtesy of Issah Hayatou-led CAF, the crown went their way and Samuel Eto’o was bestowed the African Best Player for 2010 for the fourth record times.

One might ask does Asamoah Gyan really deserve the crown for the year 2010. Let’s find out:

In this universe, when you criticized someone for doing wrong, you should be able to give praises when he does the right thing as well. Because one’s candid acknowledgement of the good side of the person will serve as a reward to reinforce that positive behavior. Let me put it on record that I am one of the many Ghanaian ‘haters’ of Asamoah Gyan ever since I cast my eyes on him when he started wearing Ghana’s # 3 jersey, notably from 2006-2008. We said all sort of things to him and his family and used all forms of degrading adjectives to describe him simply because he constantly fail to put balls in the net even when the brightest chance is at hand. But Gyan, as humble as he is, reflected upon himself, took all insults and threats of Ghanaian in good faith, went back to the drawing board and re-polished his skills, to demonstrate that "when you are counted out, you are really not out", whilst praying for the opportunity to show myself and Ghanaian that a rejected stone by the builders could one day become the corner stone. What did we see in Gyan thereafter?

The year 2010 was a historic year for Africa as far as football is concerned, thanks to FIFA given South Africa the right to host the most intriguing quadrennial event (the FIFA World Cup) on African soil. Africa became the cynosure to all eyes and equally, hopes and expectations were at their peak for Africa to win the trophy or at least go to the finals. Many were those who keep asking “Could this be Africa’s moment to make an indelible print on the global globular game?”, and “Can Africa (reference to the six teams) do it for Africa?” Coincidentally, a platform was provided by CAF to test the preparedness and ability of the qualified teams through its bi-annual MTN African Cup of Nations tournament in Angola five months prior. There, Ghana having started its campaign by a lost to Ivory Coast meandered through the labyrinth of the tournament spearheaded by Striker Asamoah Gyan to reach the zenith where they lost by a lone goal to Egypt. The name“Asamoah Gyan” became the common household name to many in African over pre-tournament favorites Drogba and Eto’O.

Again, in South Africa, the success story of Gyan was no different from Angola if not that he’s become even more matured mentally, physically and skillfully. His effort and bravely saw Ghana past Serbia, Australia and USA to make a date with Uruguay. What happened thereafter was a history we shall tell the next generation. Undeniably, Gyan is no match for Eto’O and Drogba when it comes to striking or putting the ball in the net, but where were they when Gyan and his team-mate took the mantle for Africa in South Africa (and even in Angola)? If Ghana Black Star is named the best team in Africa at the 2010 Glo CAF Award, what makes it so blurry for CAF and its cohorts to name the man who championed that feat as the best player? Why didn’t CAF named Cameroun, Ivory Coast or Nigeria national teams as the best team in Africa in 2010?

THE REASON

To me not only was Gyan robbed of an Award the world knows he deserves as evidenced by him being named the 2010 BBC African best player; but also Issah Hayatou and his Francophone collaborators connived to take away Abedi Pele’s enviable record of being the first African player to have won the Best African Player award three consecutive times until George Weah and Eto’O drew level. They simply want Eto’O to beat Abedi to become the single player and a Cameroonian to have won the award four record times! After all, it was a France-based France Football Magazine that initiated the African Best Player Award from 1970 to 1994, hence the dominance by the Francophone to show that they are “tough”(supremacy) as verbalized by Kofi Jumah, MP for Asokwa. Agree with me or not, the Francophone themselves knew that what I am saying is the truth. I know records are set to inspire younger generations to either level or break, but it must be the right time, the right place and the right person. When Usain Bolt broke the world 100m and 200m records no one has a course to complain because he deserves it.

THE SOLUTION

I think Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and all the other Anglophone countries in Africa has to wake up and protest the criteria at which the best player is selected; for if this current criteria is allowed to stand, for the next 10 years and beyond, no Anglophone player should dream of winning the award even though, he might perform incredibly well like Brazil’s Pele, Maradona or Messi but their faith will be left in the hands of the many Francophone coaches who will vote on language and ethnicity line as influenced by CAF! In 2001, when it was unanimously clear for Samuel Osei Kuffour to win his award, it went to Diouf. Again, the most influential and talented midfielder on earth today--Micheal Essien is without CAF Player crown award despite making it to the final for five consecutive times. And again, another Ghanaian has just fallen prey to Hayatou and his shameless majorities! Corruption galore! If the green leaves are burning fla-fla-fla like this, how much more the dry ones? In other words, if corruption, nepotism, insincerity, daylight robbery and unwarranted favoritism have engulfed CAF, how about the various FAs, League Boards and the referees down the drain! Let's wake up Anglophone football nations else we shall continue to be robbed while the Francophone keeps winning.
By:

FRANK GOKA,
NEW YORK, USA
Frango2001@yahoo.com