YAYA TOURE’S AFRICA’S BEST!

Keita, Ayew Place Second And Third Respectively
Musa Loses, Perpetual Wins, Taiwo Makes Best XI



Ivorian Midfielder Yaya Toure has won the Caf Player of the Year award, GHANAsoccernet.com can exclusively reveal.

Toure, 28, who plays for English club Manchester City beat Mali’s Seydou Keita (2nd) and Andre Ayew of Ghana (3rd) to win Africa’s most prestigious individual award.

He thus succeeds Didier Drogba as the last Ivorian to win the award won in 2009.

After leaving FC Barcelona, Yaya Toure has become one of the most valuable players at English club, Manchester City and reportedly among the highest earners in Premier League.

His impeccable ball control, recovery and his intelligent reading of the game enabled him contribute in his team’s success in the FA Cup.

He scored the only goal at the semi-final against Manchester United and repeated the dose in the final against Stoke City.

He was also one of the key players in Cote d’Ivoire’s successful campaign in the qualifying rounds for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations with some goals to his credit.

 Toure,in his acceptance speech thanked his wife,children and brother,Kolo Toure for their support but he gave credit to his teammates for his achievement.

 'Without my national team colleagues,I wouldn't have won this award'',he said after receiving his award from CAF president,Issah Hayatou.



FULL LIST OF AWARD WINNERS:


Africa Player of the Year – Yaya Toure
Fair Play award – Libyan National team
Coach of the Year – Harouna Doula
National team of the Year – Botswana
Womens National Team of the Year – Cameroon
Club of the Year – Esperence de Tunis (Tunisia)
Referee of the Year – Noumandiuez Doue (CIV)
Most Promising Talent of the Year – Souleymane Coulibaly (Cote d’Ivoire)
Womens Footballer of the Year – Perpetua Ijeoma Nkwocha (Nigeria)
Legend Award – Austin Jay Jay Okocha (Nigeria)
Legend Award – Mustapha Hadji (Morocco)
Platinum Award – John Atta Mills (Ghana)
Africa Based Player of the Year – Oussama Darragi (Tunisia)
Africa’s finest XI: — DETAILS INSIDE
 Samir Aboud (Libya), Harrison Afful (Ghana), Banana Yaya (Cameroon), Ayoub Eikhiqi (Morocco), Taye Taiwo (Nigeria), Seydou Keita (Mali), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Ghana) Yaya Toure (Cote d’Ivoire), Andre Ayew (Ghana), Moussa Sow (Senegal) and Samuel Eto’o

Shedrack @ Angkor Wat international half marathon

Shedrack aka Shady at finishing line

Last Sunday was yet another yearly event day that took many to little but popular city of Siem Reap  here in Cambodia. It was 2011 version of Angkor Wat international marathon which saw  about 5,230 athletes from different parts of the world participating in the race including Swedes debutantes  that eventually emerged as winners of both men and women stages. 

The Swede finished one hour thirteen minutes five seconds while Shady as only Nigerian that took part in the marathon finished an hour thirty four minutes eight seconds which was pretty much impressive record for an athlete like him without proper preparations and supervision of a professional coach or manager. 

This year marathon was flagged off by Cambodia minister of tourism and president of National Olympic committee of Cambodia

Shady taking a shot with participants

Shady with Top Banana fella 

Swede successes at temple run

It was a grand Swedish double header in the 16th Angkor Wat International Half marathon in Siem Reap yesterday as Henrik Jannaborg made his debut run a winning one among men and his compatriot Jenny Lundgren romped home in the women’s event.

Photo by: Sreng Meng Srun

Runners race through a gate in the Angkor Thom temple complex during yesterday’s 16th Angkor Wat International Half Marathon in Siem Reap

At the crack of dawn, a record 5,230 runners from 58 countries had assembled in front of the famed Angkor Wat complex to take part in different categories over varying distances. The men’s and women’s half marathoners numbering around 2,000 were the first to be flagged off by Minister of Tourism and President of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia Thong Khon.

With the temperature touching 21 degrees celsius at the start and humidity well within reasonable limits, the field was thickly bunched up  for a while before the serious contenders began to stretch away in a challenging tempo set by none other than Jannaborg.

Behind him chased a group headed by last year’s runner-up Evan Fox. But at the half way stage it was obvious that the Swedish amateur was the one to beat. 

Fox had his own personal battles to deal with. The tall Californian, who now lives in Vietnam working for the government there on environmental issues, had a niggling calf injury suddenly flare up.

“I very nearly thought of giving up,” said the American after the race. However, he gamely carried on to eventually finish just a minute slower in second place behind the athletically built Swede, who timed an impressive 1:13.05 for the 21km trip. 

Japan’s Qnozo Miroma, with a timing of 1:17.41, filed in third ahead of Jo Koster of Switzerland and Remi Galland of France.

“The conditions were definitely much better than I had expected,” said a triumphant Jannaborg. “When I looked over my shoulders at the half way stage, I could see Evan and others chasing hard. I just kept going and it is such a great feeling to win here. 

“This is my first appearance in this event. No, I am not a professional, I just love distance running and before coming here I had run a couple of half marathons in Thailand,” he said, adding that he also plans to compete in a full marathon.

Meanwhile for women’s half marathon winner Jenny Lundgren, a comfortable victory in the event also came with a cost. Winning in 1:25.22 ahead of New Zealander Holly Warren (1:29.11) and Singapore’s Vivian Tang (1:30.20), the 33-year-old Swede had expended so much of her energy that she was visibly struck by cramps after the event. She was noticeably limping in her walk up to the podium to receive her well earned prize.

This is only the second time that the winners of both the men’s and women’s events are from the same country, matching the record set in 1996 by the Chinese pair of  Zhan Donglin (men) and Wang Xiujie.

The men’s 10km run produced a finish fit for the theatre with 41-year-old Frenchmen Amaud Deh edging out Cambodia’s Kan Thoeun. Running barefoot, Sa Ratak of Cambodia finished a noteworthy third.

The women’s 10km was equally exacting with Switzerland’s Corine Coster staying the trip better than the rest. Respectful distance behind the winner came Gina Stenberg of Norway with Thailand’s Kristina Eriksson trotting home third.

Teenagers dominated the Family 3km fun run with Manchester-born Samuel Penfold emerging the winner. 

The 13-year-old English lad, whose parents are working in Phnom Penh, is a product of the ISBP School. He cut a smart time of 11:18.37. Someway behind in second place was Cambodia’s Huan Kung Kie, 14, ahead of 18-year-old local boy Nov Han.

The 10km run for men with artificial arms was claimed by Cambodia’s Vichet Mao with two other local runners Chec Eun and Bunleap Heam taking second and third places. The organisers decided to cancel all wheelchair races because of the poor condition of the roads.

“This is an astounding success for our sports tourism and I am extremely happy that the event passed off without any incidents. It is heartening to note that the Angkor Wat Half Marathon is growing in size and popularity and this year we had record numbers,” Tourism Minister Thong Khon told the Post after the awards Ceremony.

“We have been in discussion with organiser of this half marathon, Yuko Arimori of non-profit organisation Hearts of Gold, on the prospects of staging a full marathon in future. This route around the temple complex is ideal for a half marathon and to hold a 42km event we need lot of additional adjustments. It may not be feasible in the near future, but one day we will definitely have it,” the minister added.

NOCC Secretary General Vath Chamroeun confirmed that there had been no health concerns on the day, with just a few runners treated for exhaustion during and after the race. “Other than this, which is quite normal when thousands take part, the day was a victory for Cambodia’s biggest sports-tourism initiative,” he said.

Yak Makes EPL Team Of The Week!

Forgotten Super Eagles striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni was listed among the 11 best players that excelled in the English Premier League at the weekend by Entertainment Sports Programming Network (ESPN) Soccernet.

 The Yak scored a brace in the 3-3 draw between his club,Blacburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium on Saturday and his all round performance in the game earned him a place in the Team of the Week selection together with Arsenal's on-form captain,Robin Van Persie.

 ESPN wrote this about the Yak: It's been some time since Yakubu, once Everton's club record £11.25 million signing, was a regular hero but his goals could be crucial if Blackburn Rovers are to stand any chance of survival. He scored twice - falling one short of a 'Yak-trick' - the second of which was a penalty deep into stoppage time at the end of a game already mired in controversy. The talent remains even if his hunger, ironically, has been questioned, but Yakubu's signing could yet be a one-off managerial masterstroke by Blackburn's Steve Kean.

Also listed are Man City goalie,Joe Hart,Chelsea destroyer,Glen Johnson of Liverpool,Manchester United's Ryan Giggs and Arsenal duo of Theo Walcott and Alex Song.

Sport PM on cover page

1st-ever sports magazine

The front cover of 855 Sports Magazine

The first edition of the brand new, first-ever Cambodian magazine dedicated solely to sport is out on the streets of Phnom Penh, and available from many of the roadside newspaper vendors you see around the city. In fact the second, expanded edition is due out on 25 Nov. With a 5,000 print run of the first edition, the team behind 855 Sports Magazine are keen to make an impression on the sports-loving Cambodian public - the magazine is in the Khmer language - and with its glossy look, middle-page poster pull-out and wide coverage of different sports, they have made a grand entrance into the magazine market. The football-playing prime minister makes the front cover and football gets the lion's share of coverage inside the mag with 20 out of the 48 pages. There's a focus on Phnom Penh Crown, the Cambodian national team and on the Crown Academy, including a feature on one of it's young stars, Vat Samnang. The SEA Games, golf, tennis, boxing and motor sports are also covered, though the text is a little sparse in places as the magazine is pretty rich in photographs. The cover price is 5,000 riels though I believe it may drop to 4,000 for the second edition. This is a first for Cambodian sports fans, their own dedicated magazine published every two weeks covering both local and international sports stories. Now it's up to the magazine team to strive to improve their content and for the public to support them by buying the magazine on a regular basis.

A feature on Vat Samnang, from the Crown Academy

Huge surprise for Chelsea FC

Chelsea 1 - 2 Liverpool

The Reds recorded a Premier League double over Chelsea last season - and secured three points again as Johnson produced a moment of individual brilliance to win with three minutes left.

The recalled Maxi Rodriguez crowned a sweeping passing move to give the visitors a half-time lead, but Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas looked to have changed the course of the game when substitute Daniel Sturridge equalised after the interval.

Johnson made his spectacular intervention against his former club just as the points looked set to be shared, taking Charlie Adam's pass in his stride before cutting through the hosts' defence to beat Petr Cech

NFF: Moses Can Never Play For England Again

The Nigeria Football Federation have rubbished reports that Victor Moses would prefer playing for his adopted country England than playing for his country of  birth, Nigeria, insisting that the Wigan FC star has been legally tied to Nigeria by FIFA.

“It is in his interest to play for Nigeria otherwise his international career is finished. Victor has been cleared by FIFA for a change of nationality from England to Nigeria and as such it is either he plays for Nigeria or forgets playing for any country.Perhaps his agent who is wishing he gets an England senior call up does not know the implication of turning his back on Nigeria after he had,on his own volition,agreed to the nationality switch. The truth is that  Moses can only pursue international football wearing the colours of Nigeria and no other country'',reveals NFF head of legal unit,Barrister Okey Obi.

According to Obi, the nationality switch was prolonged because FIFA needed to get assurances and consent of the player involved and Victor Moses and Shola Ameobi had to sign an undertaking that tied them to Nigeria internationally adding that Victor can only back out now at the risk of his international career.

Victor Moses,20 has lived in England since the age of 11 and has been capped by his adopted country at Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 levels before agreeing to play for his country of birth and FIFA approved the nationality switch last month to play for Nigeria.

Under FIFA rules, players who had represented one country at junior level can play for another at senior level if they meet the qualification stipulations which make Victor Moses eligible to play for Nigeria.

Moses recently failed to honour an invitation to play two international friendly matches against Botswana and Zambia

Aneke: Keshi Made My Debut Smooth

Nigeria Premier League (NPL) all-time goal scorer, Jude Aneke, has revealed that Super Eagles supremo, Stephen Keshi prepared him for his first international cap in Wednesday’s friendly against Zambia.

Aneke, who scored 20 goals to erase Ahmed Musa’s previous 18-goal record came on for Emmanuel Emenike on 74 minutes and received a loud ovation from enthusiastic fans of his Kaduna based club.

"It was a proud moment for me. Keshi told me football is the same all over the world. He said it’s difficult to score 20 goals in Nigeria and all I need to excel is to be confident.

"I thank God for making this possible,” the Political Science graduate of Ebonyi State University told SuperSport.com.

The forward also appreciated the support from Kaduna fans.

“I was thrilled with the reaction from the Kaduna fans when the coach introduced me. It shows they’ve appreciated my efforts at Kaduna United. It was great to play in front of the fans who have followed my success at Kaduna United,” he said to SuperSport.com.

The Kaduna United star hopes to progress under Keshi even as he prepares for a new football challenge in the Belgian Jupiler League, where Genk are anxiously waiting to receive him for observation.

Aneke scored 32 Premier League goals in two seasons for Kaduna United

Barca Target Arsenal’s Song

Alex Song is a target for European champions ­Barcelona.

The 24-year-old Arsenal midfield player is seen as the ideal replacement for Mali international Seydou Keita who plans to quit the Camp Nou next June.

Song has impressed ­Gunners’ manager Arsene Wenger this season and ­Arsenal have already made one attempt to secure the Cameroon international on a longer deal.

There are still more than three years to run on his current contract but Wenger views Song as a major asset as his versatility has seen him play him in both ­central defence and midfield.

Arsenal’s initial offer was rejected — but Wenger is determined and is certain to come back in an attempt to keep Song for another four years at least.

If Song refuses the offer Barcelona are ready to swoop next summer.

They are ready to pay more than £15million and manager Pep Guardiola will first talk to former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.

Fabregas — who moved to Barcelona from Arsenal for £35m in the summer — rates his ex-team-mate highly so that will tempt Guardiola.

Song is reluctant to uproot his family from London, but might well be tempted by the once-in-a-lifetime chance to play for the team currently rated the best in world football

SORRY IS NOT ENOUGH

Fulham’s Etuhu blasts Ref  over apology



Fulham midfielder Dickson Etuhu feels referee Peter Walton’s apology for not awarding his side a penalty on Sunday is not good enough.

The Cottagers were denied a spot-kick when Tottenham defender Kyle Walker handled the ball in the area when the Craven Cottage fixture was 2-1 to Spurs.

If the penalty was awarded, Fulham could have made it 2-2 and grabbed a point but instead, Tottenham grabbed a late goal to record a 3-1 victory.

Walton apologised for not calling the penalty for Fulham but Etuhu feels that his oversight is not enough for the Londoners who remained in the bottom five on the table.
"It was handball. I was right there and he handled it,” he told The Sun.

"The ref knows. I had a word with him and he said 'Listen, I didn't see it and if it was a handball then I'm sorry'.
"And I said to him 'Sorry isn't good enough'.

"It was the defining moment. If we had got a penalty, we'd probably have got the goal and it would have been tight at the end.

"The way it ended, we got punished with a third goal as we had to go for it. It's hard to take.

"We deserved to win the game the way we played. We were the better team. We did the right things and we are heading in the right direction. I'm sure we'll start moving up the table soon.”

KESHI: I’LL INVITE YAKUBU, KAITA IF...

Big Boss Vows To Give Every On-Form Nigerians Eagles Chance


BY RICHARD JIDEAKA, ABUJA



Super Eagles gaffer, Stephen Keshi has disclosed that he would give every Nigerian player both home and abroad the chance to prove himself in the team.

Speaking with Complete Sports in Abuja at the weekend, Keshi stated that he would not discriminate against any player, adding that he wants to build a strong team that will not only be the pride of Nigerians but also put the country in its rightful place in the continent’s football circles.

“Siasia has done so well with the assemblage of some young and bright players who need to be together for a longer period of time to reveal their full potentials. Any player with quality would get his chance to prove himself in the Super Eagles. I would invite players based on their club forms and the positions they play."

“There is nothing wrong in inviting the likes of out- of- favour duo of striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni and midfielder Sani Kaita to come and fight for a place in the team if they are doing very well in their respective clubs in Europe. I would not sacrifice their international career because of some unfortunate incidents involving them in the field of play," he began.

Speaking further he said:

“Kaita cannot just be dumped because he was red carded during the last World Cup in South Africa. It is normal for players to get involved in one form of violent conduct or the other and his cannot be an exception. The young man has been kept away for over one year now and he had been playing regular football for his Ukrainian club, so I may recall him back in near future."

“I also think that the Super Eagles players did not help Kaita after his being sent out cost Nigeria a win against Greece at the World Cup. I think his mates should have rallied round him to lift his spirit and Nigerians should have spared him the condemnation that followed the loss. We have seen teams playing one man short going ahead to get important victories. Kaita would get his chance if he remains in top form with his club."

“Yakubu should also be considered for a recall if he so desired to play for Nigeria again. He missed an important goal at the World Cup and he was written off by Nigerians and never given a chance to redeem himself. If he is playing well for his club in England and we feel he could help the Eagles why not, I would call him back if he is good."

“Again, I want a situation where by Yakubu, Kaita or whoever that had served the country for many years should be allowed to leave or retire on high. I don’t want players who have played for Nigeria to grumble after serving the country well,” he stated.

The fear of the unknown

The article you are about to read is essentially base on personal opinion and anyone with better opinion to share or add to it, may!

Football is such a lovable game that take away stress off people either as player playing in pitch or spectator watching from ground stand and its also serves as way of uniting people together regardless of background, ethical, region or even religion. Its the world most popular sport played almost everywhere in world today.

Its another mean for people to earn living for themselves and family as more money has been pumped in modern football and it has since became a huge business opportunity for those who venture into it but not fair enough is the manner or approach which people involve are been treated. The players! Many has been demoralized, discouraged, looked down, cheated, miss-understood, turned down, criticized or even sent packing for purpose of favoritism, nepotism, association, connection or nationality.

If you are not a player like Lionel Missi, Cristiano Ronaldo or David Beckam or somewhat have any link to top reigning or active players, football managers do not care to know if one ever exist and so true is Asia football where big names or famous footballers are stronger factors in offering unknown players contract. I must say here people made the discovering of these known, great players of today's world from gross root and made them the stars they are. They were given much and open opportunity to excel in the game as under-dogs. They didn't wake up being the stars they are now.

Several managers are so desperately seeking a well established players today under minding up coming ones which may develop into better players in future if they were given a chance and I strongly consider  this behavior as unfair and  its way of marginalizing the unknown.  This attitude coming from those managing football across the globe has killed many supposed stars who lacked self motivations in face of critics and rejection.

Another maltreatment in today's football is nationality! Many players from Brazil or other known names in football enjoy unwanted preferential treatment without even going through trails (test match footballers get to play) to get contracts and at end turn to be worse buy to teams or clubs which may not go down well for the progress of those teams. Please don't get me wrong here! Its a known fact that several great players had emerged from great football countries like Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Italy, Uruguay etc and I do respect these facts. However, football are no longer base on past achievement rather on what efforts one can make to see your team winning.

The likes of Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto's, Micheal Essien, Emmanuel Adebayor are non Brazilians yet making strong waves in today's football simply become they were given chance to prove themselves. Thierry Henry had a stint with Juventus of Italy with just a goal to his record throughout a season but later became goal king in Arsenal of England. People need support and encouragement to give hundred percent performance in field of play. Managers should try to know the world players live in and seek a better solution to enhance good performances from players. I will use Baloteile and Robert Mancini of Manchester City as a case study. As a coach or manager of club, he encouraged Baloteile right at Internationale in Italy and they are both having a happy relationship now at City. He came down to know what was wrong and how possible to help him be in his best because he had faith in his talent.

Managers need to also have faith in players and see future in them rather than pushing them too hard now in order to make them an obvious failure. Unknown players definitely needs time to grow into what you want them to be and this is proven secret of Arsene Wenger of Arsenal FC. Theo Walcott has joined the list of great players in the world today and same goes for Jack Wilshere, a 19 years old playing BP. These boys were encouraged and confidence were also built in them by a manager who saw future in them.

Football has gone beyond big names, it needs opportunity to the unknown players, moral support, monetary support, physical support and mental support from all those hoping and expecting great results. With these enlisted, the so called unknown will become known names and stars in futures. Kindly give opportunity to other just as you were given. No man is an island in the game!

Men’s shortlists for FIFA Ballon d’Or gala 2011 revealed

Today, one week after FIFA and France Football announced the names of the candidates for the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year and the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football awards for 2011, they have also revealed the names for the men’s awards. 

The candidates for the FIFA Ballon d’Or award and for the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football award have been unveiled (see below), and the final decisions will be made by the captains and head coaches of the men’s national teams as well as by international media representatives selected by France Football.

The winners of all of the awards will be revealed at the second FIFA Ballon d’Or gala as part of a televised ceremony at the Zurich Kongresshaus on 9 January 2012. The FIFA/FIFPro World XI and the FIFA Puskás Award for the most beautiful goal of the year, the FIFA Presidential Award and the FIFA Fair Play Award will also be presented during the gala.

The lists of 23 male candidates as well as the list of ten coaches have been drawn up by football experts from the Football Committee, the Technical and Development Committee and by a group of experts from France Football.

On 5 December 2011, FIFA and France Football will hold a media event in Paris during which they will announce the names of the three men and three women, as well as the three men’s coaches and three women’s coaches, who have received the most votes. The three nominees for the FIFA Puskás Award will also be announced.

Shortlists for the FIFA Ballon d’Or gala 2011 

The following 23 men (in alphabetical order) are in contention for the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2011:

Éric Abidal (France), Sergio Agüero (Argentina), Karim Benzema (France), Iker Casillas (Spain),Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Dani Alves (Brazil), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon), Cesc Fàbregas (Spain), Diego Forlán (Uruguay), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Müller (Germany),Nani (Portugal), Neymar (Brazil), Mesut Özil (Germany), Gerard Piqué (Spain), Wayne Rooney(England), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands), Luis Suárez (Uruguay),David Villa (Spain), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Xavi (Spain).

The following ten coaches (in alphabetical order, first nationality and then team) are in contention for the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football 2011:

Vicente Del Bosque (Spain/Spain national team), Alex Ferguson (Scotland/Manchester United FC), Rudi Garcia (France/Lille OSC), Pep Guardiola (Spain/FC Barcelona), Jürgen Klopp (Germany/Borussia Dortmund), Joachim Löw (Germany/Germany national team), José Mourinho (Portugal/Real Madrid C.F.), Óscar Tabárez (Uruguay/Uruguay national team), André Villas-Boas (Portugal/FC Porto, Chelsea FC), Arsène Wenger (France/Arsenal FC)

SUPER EAGLES BATTLE RWANDA!

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will tackle Rwanda in a qualifying match for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by South Africa.
The first leg match will be in Rwanda, while the return is billed for Nigeria.
CAF are yet to put a date to this match-up, but assure that it will be played in the first half of next year.
Nigeria battled the Wasps of Rwanda in the qualifying tournament for the 2006 World Cup. The Eagles won the first game in Abuja 2-0 before they scraped a 1-1 draw in the return match in high-altitude Kigali.
For the final playoff for South Africa 2013, the winners of this tie will then await one of the 16 teams in next year’s tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

This playoff will be in September and October 2012.
Other top guns drawn in the preliminary round qualifiers are seven-time champions Egypt (vs Central African Republic), Cameroon (vs Guinea Bissau) and Algeria (vs Gambia).
The complete draw for 2013 Nations Cup:
Preliminary Round 1:
The lowest ranked 4 teams (Swaziland, Sao Tome, Seychelles, and Lesotho) will meet in first and second leg to qualify 2 teams
Preliminary Round 2
2 qualified teams and 26 others making 28 countries will meet in first and second leg to qualify 14 teams