As the countdown to the 2013 Glo CAF
Awards in Lagos, Nigeria on January 9
continues, speculation amongst footballer
lovers and Soccer pundits across Africa about
who among the top ten shortlisted players for
the African Player of the Year will clinch the
honour, has also intensified.
The likely winner of the 2013 Awards will
become clearer any moment from now when
CAF releases the list of the top 3 contenders
for the award preparatory to the Awards night
when the winner will be announced.
From 2005 to date, Globacom has no doubt
succeeded in raising the profile of the Awards
ceremonies, making Africa to look forward to
the 2013 Gala night with nostalgia.
The major objective of the annual Glo-CAF
Awards is the celeberation of the best of
African football. The award honours talented
Africans who have excelled either playing or
administering the beautiful game of football,
thus uplifting the round leather game in the
continent.
The partnership between Globacom and CAF is
now in its 8th year and its one of the
numerous corporate social responsibilities
engineered or supported by the telecoms
company to inspire African youths to excel
and stimulate the continent’s socio-economic
development.
In 2005, Globacom and the Confederation of
African Football (CAF) signed a partnership
agreement for the sponsorship of the annual
CAF Player of the Year Awards. The glamour,
panache and effervescence of the ceremonies
and the enormous resources deployed
annually by Globacom to stage the event in
conjunction with CAF, has since elevated the
awards, which was hitherto just a footnote in
Africa’s football calendar, to a major event in
the global football chart.
The FIFA President, Sepp Blatter was one of
the dignitaries who attended the 2008 edition
of Glo CAF Awards in Lagos. After three hours
of sublime entertainment, Blatter
congratulated both Globacom and CAF and
said the world had something to learn from
Africa on how to blend a soccer awards
ceremony with premium entertainment.
The awards has continued to inspire and
enhance the performance of the athletes,
which is one of the contributing factors to the
improving standard and quality of football
enjoyed today in the continent while the
recipients are worthy ambassadors, projecting
the good image of African football across the
world.
The first player to win the Glo CAF African
Player of the Year Awards after Globacom
took over the sponsorship in 2005 is Samuel
Eto’O Fill from Cameroun who was then a top
striker for Spanish giants, FC Barcelona. He
emerged as the best player on the continent
at the Awards held in Nigeria’s capital city of
Abuja.
After the Awards, he continued to distinguish
himself across the world, playing consistently
for both his National team, Indomitable Lions
of Cameroun and Barcelona of Spain and it
was not a surprise that five years later, he
again emerged as the winner of the 2010
Awards held in Cairo, Egypt.
The Awards moved to Accra in 2006 and the
Captain of Elephants of Cote d’ Ivoire who was
then a top striker with Chelsea FC of London,
Didier Drogba won the Glo CAF African Player
of the Year Awards after distinguishing himself
all year round in African and European
competitions. Drogba and his predecessor,
Samuel Eto’o were later to emerge as the top
strikers in the African best eleven selected for
that year.
Drogba continued to feature on the top list of
shortlisted players for the annual Award
annually and when he emerged as the winner
again in 2009 when the gala night retuned to
Accra, Ghana, the entire continent
unanimously agreed it was a great choice.
In 2012, Drogba led Chelsea to their first
European Champions League trophy. He is
presently playing for Turkish Football Club,
Galatasaray. In the current season, Drogba has
scored nine times in all competitions for
Galatasaray, including the UEFA Champions
League.
It must be noted that the duo of Samuel Eto’O
of Cameroun and Didier Drogba of Cote
d’Ivoire were constant features on the African
best eleven from 2005 to 2012.
In 2007, Lome the capital of Togo hosted the
event and the Award was clinched by ex-
Sevilla of Spain marksman, Frederic Kanoute
from Mali.
Kanoute, before winning the Awards, was the
leading scorer for his club and was very
outstanding for the Malian National team, the
Eagles. He retired from football two years ago.
The 2008 Edition was held in Nigeria’s
commercial nerve centre, Lagos and this time
around Togolese International Emmanuel
Adebayor, who was then playing for Arsenal
FC of London, picked the Award. Adebayor
later moved to Manchester City and is
presently on loan at Tottenham Hotspurs of
London. Recently sacked Tottenham coach,
Andre Villas Boas would leave to regret
relegating Adebayor to the sideline. Shortly
after Andre was sacked for his poor run of
results, his successor turned to Adebayor who
has been banging in crucial goals for
Tottenham.
In 2011, Accra hosted the Awards for the third
time and the African Player of the Year
Awards went to Manchester City and
Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire midfielder, Yaya
Toure. Ex Monaco and Barcelona player, Yaya
played an active part in Manchester City’s
emergence as the Champions of English
Premier League that year. He held the midfield
solidly, supporting the attack constantly and
linking effectively with Spanish International,
David Sylva. He scored a couple of brilliant
goals himself.
It was therefore not surprising when Ghana
Hosted the Awards Night again in 2012 and
Yaya emerged again as the African Player of
the Year, winning the Award back to back. He
has continued to play a prominent role in
Manchester City such that he is also a top
contender for the 2013 Awards coming up in
Lagos in January, 2014. He was named
among shortlisted top 10 contenders for the
African Player of Year Award released by CAF
in November 2013.
He also recently emerged as BBC African
Player of the Year for 2013.

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