Kanoute 2007 African Footballer of the year

[Tito]

Furious Drogba Slams CAF Over Kanoute Award And Pulls Out  Didier Drogba has pulled out of future African Player of the Year awards after revealing that his award was handed over to Frederic Kanoute.

It Was My Award

Kanoute was named African Footballer of the Year late last week, and Drogba has now revealed that it was originially supposed to be his award.

However, he was snubbed because he was unable to travel to Lome, Togo, as he was busy preparing for Ivory Coast's quarter-final clash.

Mali, however, had been sent out of the tournament, and thus Kanoute, who could make the trip, was handed the award.

"I received a call in the afternoon [on Friday] from a high ranking CAF official," revealed Drogba.

"He told me that if I didn't appear at the ceremony the rules would be changed - that I would no longer be first and that the prize would go to the runner-up, Frederic Kanoute."

Ghana's Michael Essien also took permission from his team to attend the function, and came in second.

African Image Hurt

However, Drogba has slammed CAF's decision to organise the function in Togo when the top African players are currently in Ghana, and focusing on their national teams.

"Aside from the vote it was what was said that has actually surprised me," added Drogba.

"We're all working for the African continent, and there's a huge media presence in Ghana for a competition that was heavily criticised ten years ago."

"So there comes a time when we all have to pull together."

Enough Is Enough

It was then that he dropped the bomb-shell.

"I don't think this type of attitude honours Africa so I've decided to pull out of future elections for the Ballon d'Or," he declared.

"In my eyes this award has lost its value. I'm a simple player, the decision that I take doesn't hurt a lot of people.

"If I refused to go to Lome it was first for my teammates as you don't organise such an event just two days before a quarter-final (Sunday's game against Guinea).

"I didn't go as well because of the son of Ulrich Stilieke has died."

Comment: Where Is Common Sense?

The declarations are certain to cause embarrassment to the CAF bosses, as the logic behind forcing players to leave their national team camps and travel to Togo is certain to be questioned.

What makes it even more questionable is the fact that an event in Ghana would actually have received some good coverage, with media represntatives from all over the world currently in the country covering the African Nations Cup.

CAF have been known to name only those players who can attend the function, but one wonders if it has been taken a step too far this time.

And just when you thought that the image of football in Africa was being repaired in the best way possible!

[cigar omar]

He should have just went they would have lost to Egypt anyway.  :pimp:

[Adi]

Africa = Italy

Different skin color, same cheaters.

[^_^]

Africa = Italy

Different skin color, same cheaters.

Elaborate..

[Adi]

Cheating Drogba out of the award simply because he didn't show up. Corrupt fucks.

[Tito]

i blame Drogba why didn't he just go

[Buckwheat156]

kanoute i think deserved it. seville depended on him like chelsea depends on drogba. and seville went to the uefa cup final on his back.

[Tito]

and won it twice what more do they want from a striker from a team like sevilla

[Adi]

i blame Drogba why didn't he just go

Sometimes you can't make it, especially when you have a huge game one or two days before that. You can't be traveling long distances that much before a big game. I completely understand his situation. They could have done a live-feed from where he was. That's how it's done in most places.

[Tito]

if he snooze he lose