No South African player was named on the shortlist of 37 players for the 2015 African Footballer of the Year award‚ but four from Orlando Pirates are among the preliminary selections for the secondary award for the best African-based player.
Kermit Erasmus‚ Thamsanqa Gabuza‚ Oupa Manyisa and goalkeeper Felipe Ovono were on a list of 24 released by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) late on Sunday night.
The lists are compiled by staff members at Caf and reflect a poverty of expertise as they highlight goal-scorers and popular performances but fail to recognise any consistency of performance.
Ovono’s selection devalues the merited choice of his three clubmates‚ although it could be on the basis of his penalty-saving ability for the Equatorial Guinea national team at the African Nations Cup finals at the start of the year rather than for his jittery showings in goal for Pirates in the African Confederation Cup where he has served as Brighton Mhlongo’s replacement.
Mhlongo is a notable absentee from the list despite several key performances in goal for Pirates in the group phase of the Confederation Cup‚ mirroring the way the late Senzo Meyiwa was such a vital factor for Pirates two years ago when they reached the African Champions League final.
Senegal-born midfielder Issa Sarr was also outstanding in the campaign and should have been included on the list.
The award for the tongue-twistingly named “African Player of the Year — Based in Africa” will be made at the annual Caf gala‚ usually held just before Christmas or in the early New Year.
The list will be cut to a final selection of three with TP Mazembe Mbwana Aly Samatta surely the hot favourite form his goal scoring exploits in the Champions League.
The much more prestigious African Footballer of the Year award is likely to be heavily contested as Yaya Toure seeks to win for a record-setting fifth successive year. Dede Ayew of Ghana and Sadio Mane‚ from Senegal are the other candidates.
The award is voted for by coaches and captains of the African national teams.
No SA players nominated for Caf Footballer of the Year award
No South African player was named on the shortlist of 37 players for the 2015 African Footballer of the Year award‚ but four from Orlando Pirates are among the preliminary selections for the secondary award for the best African-based player.
Kermit Erasmus‚ Thamsanqa Gabuza‚ Oupa Manyisa and goalkeeper Felipe Ovono were on a list of 24 released by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) late on Sunday night.
The lists are compiled by staff members at Caf and reflect a poverty of expertise as they highlight goal-scorers and popular performances but fail to recognise any consistency of performance.
Ovono’s selection devalues the merited choice of his three clubmates‚ although it could be on the basis of his penalty-saving ability for the Equatorial Guinea national team at the African Nations Cup finals at the start of the year rather than for his jittery showings in goal for Pirates in the African Confederation Cup where he has served as Brighton Mhlongo’s replacement.
Mhlongo is a notable absentee from the list despite several key performances in goal for Pirates in the group phase of the Confederation Cup‚ mirroring the way the late Senzo Meyiwa was such a vital factor for Pirates two years ago when they reached the African Champions League final.
Senegal-born midfielder Issa Sarr was also outstanding in the campaign and should have been included on the list.
The award for the tongue-twistingly named “African Player of the Year — Based in Africa” will be made at the annual Caf gala‚ usually held just before Christmas or in the early New Year.
The list will be cut to a final selection of three with TP Mazembe Mbwana Aly Samatta surely the hot favourite form his goal scoring exploits in the Champions League.
The much more prestigious African Footballer of the Year award is likely to be heavily contested as Yaya Toure seeks to win for a record-setting fifth successive year. Dede Ayew of Ghana and Sadio Mane‚ from Senegal are the other candidates.
The award is voted for by coaches and captains of the African national teams.
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