Zimbabwe international striker Edward “Duduza” Sadomba’s stock is rising each day as he has been nominated for the Confederation of African Football (Caf) 2011 the Player of the Year based in Africa.
Ten nominees each were named for the two categories based on the performance and contribution of the players to their clubs and national teams during the year under review.
For the first time, there are 10 nominees for the African Player of the Year (Based in Africa), five up from last year.
The lists was compiled through a vigorous exercise by the Technical, Football and Media Committees of Caf, taking into account the performance of the player for his national team and club from January to November.
The Awards Gala will be held on Thursday, December 22 in Accra, Ghana. It will be the third time the Ghanaian capital will be hosting the annual event after 2006 and 2009.
Caf in the past used to honour the African footballer of the year regardless of where they were plying their trade. However, no Zimbabwean playing outside Africa has been nominated for the other award.
Sadomba, who plays for Sudan’s Al Hilal, is chasing a double, as he is the current Champions League top goalscorer with seven goals.
He is keeping his fingers crossed that other players do not find the target in the last leg of the final set for this weekend between Esperance and Wydad.
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The two teams in the final played a goalless draw last week, giving Sadomba hope of clinching the Golden Boot Award.
A delighted Sadomba told NewsDay Sport yesterday: “I know I am the first Zimbabwean player based in Africa to have been nominated for this prestigious award.
On Sunday my family and I spent the 90 minutes glued to our television set to see if any players who are chasing my goals record were going to find the target in the first leg of the final.
But thank God the match ended in a draw. I hope this will be the same situation this weekend so that I can for the first time claim the award,” Sadomba said.
The nominees: 2011 African Player of the Year (Based in Africa) Ayoub Elkhiqi (Morocco and WAC) Yaya Banana (Cameroon and EST) Edward Sadomba (Zimbabwe and Al Hilal) Idrissa Laouali (Niger and ASFA) Jerome Ramatlhakwane (Botswana and Vasco da Gama) Kalu Uche (Nigeria and Enyimba) Oussama Darragi (Tunisia and EST) Samir Aboud (Libya and Al-Etihad) Youssef Msakni (Tunisia and EST) Zouhir Dhaouadi (Tunisia and Club Africain)
2011 African Player of the Year
Adel Taarabt (Morocco and Queens Park Rangers) Andre Ayew (Ghana and Olympique de Marseille) Asamoah Gyan (Ghana and Al-Ain) Didier Drogba (Cote d’ Ivoire and Chelsea) Kevin-Prince Boateng (Ghana and AC Milan) Moussa Sow (Senegal and Lille) Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon and Anzhi) Seydou Keita (Mali and Barcelona) Yao Kouassi Gervais “Gervinho” (Cote d’Ivoire and Arsenal) Yaya Toure (Cote d’Ivoire and Manchester City)
