Kanoute crowned CAF best player

Saturday, February 9, 2008 Pg 47 (The Mirror)

From Rebecca Kwei, Lome, Togo
Malian striker Frederic Kanoute has been adjudged the Glo-CAF African footballer of the year 2007.
He beat Ghana’s Michael Essien who was present at the ceremony and Didier Drogba of Cote d’Ivoire, both of whom were highly tipped to win the title.
This is the second time a Malian has received the coveted award after Salif Keita took it in 1970.
Kanoute plays for Spanish side Sevilla.
At the ceremony were Samuel Eto’o Fils and former international stars Abedi Ayew, Tony Yeboah and Tony Baffoe.
Ghana’s Abedi Pele was among the Best Ten Players of the last 50 years. The rest were Samuel Eto'o, Mahmoud El Khatib, Hossam Hassan, Roger Milla, Kalusha Bwalya, George Weah, Rabah Madjerm, Didier Drogba and Nwankwo Kanu.
At an impressive ceremony at the Palais de Congres in Lome, Togo, a calm-looking Kanoute wearing an all-white attire, received his prize from Togo’s Prime Minister, Komla Mally, who was assisted by the CAF President, Issa Hayatou.
When Kanoute’s name was mentioned, there were shouts of jubilation among the audience but you could also see ‘surprise’ written on a few faces.
The awards ceremony, which is aimed at promoting excellence in African football by rewarding best African players and football administrators, was sponsored by Globacom in collaboration with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The African Footballer of the Year award is voted for by the national coaches of the 53 CAF associations.
The Supporters Club of the Year went to Ghana while C. K. Gyamfi, former Black Stars Coach, received the Glo-CAF Merit Order of Achievement.
Other award recipients were Cynthia Uwak of Nigeria — Female Footballer of the Year, Chermeti Amine — Inter-Club Player of the Year, Etoile Sportive de Sahel — Club of the Year, The Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire — National Team of the Year, Clifford Mulenga — Young Player of the Year, and Yemi Tella — Coach of the Year.
President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo was given the Glo-CAF Platinum Award for 2007.
In his welcoming address, the Chairman of Globacom, Dr Mike Adenuga, pledged his company’s continued support for the game, adding that “we at Globacom are continuously working for the greater glory of the exciting game on the continent by sustained identification of and support for the efforts of our people, in the larger desire to keep the tempo of soccer on the high”.
For his part, Mr Hayatou said the awards ceremony provided an opportunity for all stakeholders in the football family to come together in a more relaxed manner to discuss the future.
He congratulated Globacom on staging the awards at three different venues during the last three years.
The awards ceremony was interspersed with lively music by Vicky Sampson from South Africa, King Sunny Ade from Nigeria, King Mensah from Togo and Three Tons of Fun, also from South Africa.