FIFA Ballon d'Or. Echoes and opinion.

   Once again, the FIFA ballon d'or have come and gone. Ending months of speculations on who takes what home. The media and football community had been in a frenzy in the last couple of months over the awards. FIFA,one of the largest generators of available funds once again rolled out a legendary ceremony.
   The arguments had been rife. It was really an enjoyable period for football lovers. Arguments and banter over the print and electronic media. Street corners were not spared of the unending arguments. It raged on and on. But all that was laid to rest when FIFA crowned the Real Madrid and Portugal talismanic player,Cristiano Ronaldo, the best player on the planet for 2013. He beat of competition from Barcelona's greatest, Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery.
   Under the original Ballon d'Or which was determined by journalists, Franck Ribery would have won the title as he polled 80 of the journalist votes. Miles ahead of what Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi came up with. But that wasn't to be as there had been a marriage of convenience in 2009 where the organisers of the award agreed to a merger with FIFA to align the award into a single one. A merger someone like me loathes with a passion. I have in recent times, ceased to be a fan of the award. This is because I believe it has become more of a popularity contest than what it should be. I believe the criteria for the award is wrong. I believe that since football is a team sport,the award should be made to be based on that singular factor and not the popularity contest it has since become. Topic for another day though. In 2010, Wesley Sneijder had a fantastic season with Inter Milan,horning a treble. While the journalist section voted him the best,the FIFA criteria ensured Lionel Messi won it. I have no confidence in the Sepp Blatter led FIFA. Same confidence I don't have in the present Alhaji Issa Hayatou led CAF. Or even worse. Their inconsistencies, horrible decisions and sit - tight attitude being hugely responsible. But because of the love for the game,we can never abandon football.
  Zlatan Ibrahimovic deservedly won the Puskas award for his goal against England. That goal still spreads a smile on the faces of those that saw it real time. A stunning beauty of a goal!
To the mother of them. FIFPRO eleven. I know it is voted for by footballers themselves. But we all remember vividly when Mario Balotelli claimed he hadn't heard of Jack Wilshere and Nicklas Bendtner claimed he didn't know Andre Arshavin until he signed for Arsenal. Does that mean we know footballers more than the footballers themselves? Because that is what it seems like,based on this FIFPRO crap. One may want to ask what Dani Alves is doing on the list? Alves? Lahm should have easily been slotted into the right full back position and David Alaba into the left full back. And Alves duly returned to Barcelona. Yaya Toure is my first pick for any midfield. Beast of a player! He commands the midfield with ease. Also, Ilkay Gundogan ran the Dortmund midfield very effectively while Schweinsteiger ran the Bayern midfield like a General. These are worthy mentions. Xavi and Iniesta,fantastic players any day,made the list on reputation. Also,Sergio Ramos was not even Real Madrid's best defender last term. Dortmund's Subotic or Bayern's Dante should have had that spot. My opinion.
   That said,apart from the outlined decisions, the ceremony itself was a beauty. The general organisation is laudable. The organisers deserve an award themselves. The gala makes a huge mockery of what is obtainable in Africa where the CAF organised Glo CAF awards is more of a comedy.
   We continue into the year with the belief of a beautiful season. Football leagues beckon and somewhere in the year, the always magnificent FIFA World Cup is lurking! Orgasmic!!

Glo CAF Awards; matters arising.

   The host city was Lagos. A large metropolitan city. The most bubbling city in Africa. The amount of human and vehicular traffic in Lagos is simply mind blowing. When Nigeria was slated to host the awards for this year, followers of the game in Africa predicted the host city to be Lagos.
   CAF, considered a notorious ring by most Nigerians,owing to the decision by the Alhaji Issa Hayatou led CAF to award Samuel Eto'o Africa's best over Nigeria's Jay Jay Okocha remains fresh in the mind of most Nigerian football followers. A decision considered as daft by most. Not knowing that the hypocritical CAF will show their colours again this year. The rate at which the football community keep loosing confidence in FIFA and CAF is on a steady. Reasons being the sit tight approach by the Presidents of the associations and ridiculous decisions taken by them at various points.
   The general organisation of the event begs questions. Personally,I switched on to the Super sports channel broadcasting the event only to switch back to my very captivating 'Arrow' series I had been watching for some days.
Yaya Toure is in my opinion,the best footballer in Africa. His commanding presence on the field is simply a delight. His strength, insight, awareness,ball usage and passing ability is just a beauty to behold. To the vast majority,it was going to be a straight battle between Yaya Toure and Nigeria's John Obi Mikel. The Chelsea holding midfielder had a marvelous 2013. From the AFCON victory where he shone like a million stars,to his Chelsea EUROPA Cup exploits and then his commanding presence for the Super Eagles at the FIFA Confeds, the player was considered a contender. For inexplicable reasons, a lot didn't reckon with Didier Drogba to win the CAF POTY. Himself,a past winner, the former Chelsea hit man who now ply his trade in Turkey was least expected to win it. I remember a certain year, it was a straight one between Jay Jay Okocha and Samuel Eto'o. The Camerounian striker won the award,even though Okocha was the favourite. A reason was cited by CAF apologists; Eto'o won trophies and Jay Jay did not. Okay. We took it,not with a pinch of salt but with a trailer load of it. Yesterday,based on Chelsea's exploits and Nigeria's AFCON victory,Mikel was expected to scoop the award. But as usual,hypocritical CAF showed up again. This time the mooted reason was that Yaya is 'a better player'. A statement that is very true. Yaya is a better all round player. Mikel won trophies. CAF lies! I don't have a problem with the choice of the excellent Ivorian as the winner. What I hate is CAF's two facedness. It's simply annoying. Create a standard and follow it to the latter. Simple.
   Mohamed Aboutrika deservedly won the Africa based best player. The Egyptian play maker who had just retired from football beat Sunday Mba to the award. Kelechi Iheanacho won the best promising player category. He is a player that is expected to grace the game to the highest level. It must be said however that the saga involving himself, father and agent hasn't helped his career. Stephen Keshi won the best coach award too. In all,what we applaud in the award ceremony is the initiative itself.
I seriously begrudge CAF on the criteria. The association should outline criteria and stick to it and not waver like cloth hung to dry.
That said, Yaya Toure is the best player in Africa. The continent does not have another player in his mould. He deserves the award he won to the disappointment of people who follow CAF and her policies. I doubt if CAF and FIFA will ever get things right. Their inconsistencies is a modern day myth.
   Congratulations, Yaya Toure, Stephen Keshi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Mohamed Aboutrika and other recipients of the award. We revel in the beauty of the game while awaiting repentance of football governing bodies. Repentance some people still hope to see. But one,that with the present crop of administrators, I have ruled out. Completely

Football Groove Year,2014.

   We thank God for the football filled 2013. From the various leagues around the world, to the African Cup Of Nations,to the UEFA tournaments, FIFA Confederations Cup etc. Countries like Nigeria and Brazil had a beautiful 2013 owing to AFCON and Confed victories respectively. While clubs like Bayern Munich, Al Ahly, Kano Pillars etc had a fantastic year. Indeed, the God of soccer was at the very best,an ever soothing presence in the lives of the down trodden and massively oppressed citizens of the World who use football as an escape from realities.
   2014 was approached by football lovers with smiles as it promises to be a beautiful year in their lives. The German, Italian and Spanish leagues are expected to resume after the New year celebrations, the UEFA Champions league kicks off from the knock out stages, the CHAN Championship kicks off and the EPL continues. Further down the year, the mother of them all, the FIFA World Cup kicks off in Brazil. Undoubtedly the biggest football fiesta in the world,the FIFA World Cup is expected to be full of pomp and pageantry. In addition to the football artistry itself, Brazil is every travellers choice destination. Therefore, the long and beautiful beaches are expected to be besieged by tourists. Aside football, the samba country is known for her wonderfully created female folks with their particularly famous Brazilian hairs. I guess all these will in one way or the other form part of the tourist attractions on show by the Amazon country.
   God has through football, made a way for the masses. In the face of abject poverty, football puts smile on their faces. Though it is a game loved by every class,the passionate ones are mostly found within the middle and lower classes, as the nouveau rich and maliciously corrupt political class are busy hatching evil oppressive plans. We all look forward to a football laden year. A place in the stands in Brazil will not be out of place for some of us.
In every corner of the world, football fanatics (like me) are rubbing their palms together in glee,praying for a beautiful 2014 as the games lined up are just too mouth watering. It's simple; we all love football.