BBC has announced its top five shortlisted candidates’ list for 2012 African Footballer of the year award, and this list is made public via its web portal on Thursday. These five players include two Ivory Coast’s team-mates Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba; perhaps Toure has made it into the list for second consecutive time. Other players in the list are: Senegal’s national teammate Demba Ba, Moroccan international Younes Belhanda, and Zambian national team’s skipper Christopher Katongo. Winner will be announced after almost twenty days, i.e., 1830 GMT on Thursday, 13 December 2012. For now, BBC has asked its listeners to vote for their favorite star in a prescribed format either online or via SMS. Fans using SMS have to send a text massage containing
– Text 1 for Demba Ba,
– Text 2 for Younes Belhanda,
– Text 3 for Didier Drogba,
– Text 4 for Christopher Katongo, and
– Text 5 for Yaya Toure
to +44 7786 20 50 75. These SMSs are chargeable with standard international SMS rates.
African footballer of the year award given by BBC has been popular ever since it started back in 1991. Its recognition is since growing, and now; it’s considered one of the prestigious and unbiased awards in soccer fraternity. BBC follows a unique approach in selecting the winner by asking votes both via SMSs and online, and whoever gets the highest votes, is declared as the African ruling footballer of the year! Until now, only two players have got this honor two times: one is Nwankwo Kanu, and another one is Jay-Jay Okocha.
This year competition seems to be very tough, coz each of the nominees has had a brilliant season last year. Drogba, who has now moved to a Chinese club after making Chelsea win champions league along with FA cup. More importantly, he was the one who scored final penalty goal to gift the title to Chelsea. Similarly, Toure played an important role in Manchester City’s Premier League Champions title’s win. Belhanda also displayed his outstanding soccer skills when he scored 12 goals, and Katongo, who proved his excellence on international level when he empowered Zambia for a surprise win in Africa Cup of Nations.
So, if you are a follower of African soccer players; do cast your vote and be a proud soccer fan making your significant contribution in selecting best Africa Footballer of the year 2012!