WHY AND HOW YAYA TOURE WON THE APOTY AWARD. “It does not matter how many times you win an award,It is always Very Special“ Zinedine Zidane. SPECIAL INDEED!!!! The above quote from a Man who should know the Legendary Zinedine Zidane,who won numerous awards in his illustrious career,which saw him play for great clubs like Juventus and Real Madrid. It is always Special when you are Recognized in your chosen field,especially in the Ever-Competitive world of Sports,specifically the king of them all Football. Ivorian Mildfielder Yaya Toure was in Ecstatic Mood when he was announced as the African Player of the Year in 2014 for the 4th Consecutive Time. Toure`s Emergence as the winner was greeted with Criticism and Anger most Especially from some Sections of the Nigeria football supporters who wanted their countryman and Captain,Vincent Enyeama to win the award that has continually eluded the Country ever since Nwankwo Kanu won the prestigious award in 1999. The Question is Did Toure Deserves to win????? Yaya Toure was Brilliant all through the year,barring his below-par performance in the 2014 world cup in brasil. Which was the only Black spot he had in 2014. Domestically,Yaya Won the Epl and the League cup ,he scored the equalizer for his team in the carling cup final to help the citizens win their First trophy of the season in March 2014. He also produced series of match-Winning Performances to guide his team to the premier league title in 2014. He scored 20goals in the premiership alone,and scored a reasonable number of goals in other commpetitions which is quite impressive for a Mildfielder. In other to achieve balance in this piece,I will like to look at the impact of the two most popular Contestants, Yaya Toure and Vincent Enyeama. VINCENT ENYEAMA Vincent had a fantastic 2014,the Nigerian shot-stopper continued from where he stopped in 2013,when he kept 11 consecutive clean sheets,playing 1,062 minutes without conceding a Goal. The goal scored by Bordeaux Landry N`gueme denied Enyeama the opportunity of equalling Gaetan Huard`s Ligue 1 record of 1,176 minutes without conceding a goal,which was set in 1993. Vincent Impressive form between the sticks help guided his team to a respectable 3rd place finish,to earn his team a Uefa Champions League play-off. Swedish Second Greatest sport Person,Zlatan Ibrahimovic Heap praise on Vincent Enyeama before a ligue 1 Match between Psg and Lille “Lille have been very good so far,their goalkeeper,Vincent Enyeama has produced some amazing games so far. He continued, “We are playing at home but we know Lille have done a fantastic Job and that the Goalkeeper kept a clean sheet for 11Games in a row. A statistic like that just make it exciting to play against Lille“ The swedish Legend concluded!!! Vincent was magnificient in 2014,especially when he drew praises from all and sundry for his ability to shut out for such a period of time. 2014 WORLD CUP Enyeama was arguably Nigeria best player in the 2014 World cup,he shone like a million Stars while most of his teammates could only watch in awe of his Superb Performances. He made several game-changing Saves in brasil,especially the first match against Argentina,which ended 3-2 in favour of the Argentines. The scorline could have been Scandalous were it not for Enyeama Sharp Reflexes and his abilty to make goal Bound saves,coupled with his Match Reading ability. ENYEAMA STATISTICS *** Vincent Enyeama played four matches in Brsil and conceded 5goals against Football power houses,Argentina and France. ***Enyeama had 80.8% Save rate ***Last season Enyeama played 37 matches for Lille and conceded 25 Goals,kept 11 clean sheets. ***Last Season,Vincent Enyeama became the First goalkeeper to be named French Ligue 1 African Player of the Season award. ***Enyeama was the only Goalkeeper to be shortlisted for the BBC Africa player of the year award. ***Enyeama Was also Voted the Best goalkeeper in France in 2014. ***Enyeama also won the Goal annual award for the best Nigeria player of the Year in 2014. Vincent Enyeama was brilliant ,but yay toure was the Best. HOW ENYEAMA CAME 3RD According to the statistics released by Caf. Only two Countries Guinea and Swaziland voted for Enyeama to win the award,while 13 Countries preferred him to be Africa Second Best. The Countries which voted enyeama as Second choice include his own Country,Nigeria,Botswana,Cameroun,chad,Dr Congo,Gambia,Mauritania,Niger,Senegal,south africa and Zambia. Similarly,27 African Countries Voted for Yaya Toure To clinch the award,while eight others preferred him as the runner-up. Enyeama will be Sad that his country Flag will not be Hoisted at the 2015 Afcon. Which would have help his chances of returning to the Podium next year,if he is Consistent enough. YAYA TOURE 2014 Toure had a glorious 2014 domestically,but an unforgettable Year Internationally. The Ivorian captain won his first trophy of the year on March 2nd 2014,when he scored the equalizer in the League Cup final as Man city won the first Trophy on offer in 2014. The Towering Mildfielder produced series of Eye-catching,game-winning performances for his club in 2014 culminating in League double for his club Manchester City. Toure Scored 20Epl goals in the premiership alone,which made him the second Central Mildfielder to score 20goals in the Epl after Chelsea Legend Frank Lampard. Scoring 20 goals in a season is quite phenomenal for a Striker. Internationally,Yaya Toure struggled to assert his domineering influence in the ivory coast mildfield as he does repeatedly for his club. Ivory Coast crashed out in the group stage of the fifa Mundial. Thus,bringing an end to the country Golden Generation era headed by the Legendary Didier Drogba and others. It is note-worthy that the Golden Generation failed to win any Trophy despite boasting of stars who ply their trades in big clubs in Europe. Yaya toure was not at his marauding best in brasil. Yaya Toure World cup Statistics Matches played 3 Goals Scored. 0 Crosses completed 27.3% Assist. 0 Recoverd Balls. 8 Passes completed 79.2% O Yaya Toure`s High points in 2014 *** Yaya Toure Won the Epl and the league cup double for his Club. *** Yaya Toure scored 20League goals for his club en-route to their League and Cup success,which is quite incredible for a Central Mildfielder. ***Yaya Toure scored 4 freekicks from 7 attempts *** Toure was included in the premier league team of the season in the 2013\2014 Season *** Toure won the Man City player of the Year award. Yaya Toure`s Low points in 2014 The Ivorian National team crashed out in the first round of the Fifa World Cup which may likely be his last shot at the biggest Stage ***The ivorien National team struggled to qualify for the 2015 Afcon,waiting till the last day of the qualification series to book their place. WHY TOURE WON!!!!!!!!!!! CLUB PEDIGREE AND ACHIEVEMENT. Big Players play for Big Clubs,this enhances their performance and boost their chances of being Rated.as it is often said”Iron Sharpeneth Iron” The past Six winners of the award played for Big Clubs in europe. Every club is a big club in its own billing,but not all clubs play at the highest level and not all clubs win trophies in the Best Leagues in the world. This assertion is not for Epl alone,it is for all clubs in the world in various leagues. This could have boosted the Ivorian chances of winning the Award. Considering the achievement of other Contenders,especially vincent Enyeama who did not win any Trophy for his club despite his stellar performances. Gabonese Forward Pierre Aubameyang won the Bundesliga super cup for Borrusia Dortmund. While Yaya toure won the league and cup double for man city. This could have sealed the fate of first and second Runner-up. LACK OF COMPETITION Another factor that worked in the Favour of the ivorian is the lack of stiff competition,thus making the award Predictable, I am talking about the type of stiff competition that exist between C.Ronaldo and Messi. African Players need to do more in other to lay claim to the Top prize,the Fifa Ballon d`or. At least an african player should be in the final 3-man list. The last african player that was recognized at the Big stage is Samuel Eto when he came 3rd behind Frank Lampard and Ronaldinho in the 2005 Fifa World player of the year Award . In 2014,even an unborn child knew Yaya Toure would win the award,because of the lack of consistency on the part of the other Contenders that are suppose to make it a Fight to Finish,in other to make the award Unpredictable. On a lighter note, like it is usually said in Nigeria political sphere,“The Anointed Candidate” . Yaya Toure was the anointed candidate to win the award owing to the lack of consistency and Stiff competition from the contestants. In the past years and even now,the runner up did not provide enough competition to give the voters and organizers a second thought. In Africa we dont have any Consistent player that will mount the podium for 4 Consecutive years ,even if such player fail to win the Award ,like we have in the case of C.Ronaldo and Messi. POPULARITY CONTEST!!!! The english premier league is arguably the league highest number of viewers in the world. Most Africans have access to the League on Tv,owing to the fact that the league is one of the best in the World,some section of africa football followers would rather watch man-city vs sunderland than watch Dortmund vs Wolfsburg or Lille vs Marseille. This also make the award predictable,because except from Yaya Toure you will hardly find an african player who churn out Consistent,Eye-catching performances for a Big Club in a Big League. Because People are used to watching Yaya Toure week-in Week-out and the ivorian captain is always at his best as he said after winning the award for 2014 for a 4th Consecutive Time. It was not difficult for his name to be on the lips of African football followers in Africa and Beyond. This is not to say that other Contenders are not popular or the league which they ply their trade is not Popular,but the Majority of African footbal followers follows the EPL Religiously,while making the other leagues look like a developing league. Yaya Toure 175Points Pierre Aubameyang 120points Vincent Enyeama 105points The number of votes each contestant garnered. MY CONCLUSION!!!!!! Sentimentally,Patriotically every Nigerian wanted Enyeama to win the award,but like we all know sentiments dont win football matches even Awards. Realistically Yaya toure was deservingly named African player of the Year in 2014. His record speaks for him. Vincent Enyeama was magnificient in 2014. The Akwa-ibom born goal keeper should be rewarded for his Splendid Performance between the sticks for Club and country. MY Suggestion, I will also like Caf to introduce other categories like the GoalKeeper of the year Defender of the year Mildfielder of the year Striker of the Year. In other to recognize players especially the defenders and the goalkeepers who are consistently performing at the Highest level for Club and country. Article Written by Taiwo Sport journalist Ibrahim. [email protected]
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 20:05:03 +0000
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