For a minute I thought the GLO CAF awards was a hoax after Yaya Toure was named African Player of the year. I took to twitter to vent and some of my friends agreed Mikel deserved it while some didn’t agree. Let me be clear about my thoughts on this issue. If I was a football manager and asked to acquire the services of one of Mikel or Yaya, without blinking I will pick Yaya. I am not a fan of Mikel and I would love Yaya Toure in my team, I will pick him over Mikel everyday and even 3 times on Sunday.
Now I usually don’t look forward to these awards anymore and I didn’t even know Yaya Toure won the award in the last two years before picking up a third award last night. We keep changing standards when it comes to these awards and now I am beginning to think only French speaking players will continue to win this award for a long while. Since my day one of watching football it is players from a tournament winning teams that are crowned or named best player of that particular year.
In the year 2013, Yaya’s team didn’t make it out of its Champions league group unfortunately for Mikel too his team crashed out of the group stage but dropped into the Europa league and his Chelsea side won the tournament with him playing a vital role. Yaya’s team was beaten by Wigan in the FA Cup final and Mikel’s team didn’t make it that far. Now Mikel won the the Orange African Cup of Nations with Nigeria and even beat Yaya’s team (favourites for the trophy) in the quarter finals. Mikel bossed the midfield in that particular game, yes he did and was named amongst the best players of the tournament. I can’t even believe I am fighting for Mikel, I don’t like him and I hate his team but hey I am trying to be objective. If Messi was named player of the year in 2010 then anything can happen jare.
I knew Mikel wasn’t going to win the award after Nigeria had cleared almost all the categories they were nominated in and the moment Sunday Oliseh (one of the hosts on the night and ex Nigerian International player) said no heart attacks. I also had a problem with the Selected African XI. Come on no Nigerian in defense? Geoffrey Oboabona was a monster (ask Drogba).
I wouldn’t say Mikel was robbed but the standard for football awards generally have dropped drastically. Shout out to D’banj for a wonderful performance and Lagbaja too killed the show with his performance. I will like to pardon P-Square for their performance, I think Mikel not winning (I hear he is their friend) the player of the year award affected them in a way. The P-Square I know would have done better.
Thanks for your time and do have a wonderful weekend.
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Was Mikel Robbed?
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