Yaya Toure Crowned BBC African Footballer of the Year 2013
Oladunjoye Opeyemi
Ivorien Midfielder, Yaya Toure has won the 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year award after being nominated in each of the past four years. He beat Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Victor Moses, John Mikel Obi and Jonathan Pitroipa to this year’s crown.
The 30-year-old said: “I think I’ve been nominated for five years in a row and finally winning the award is amazing. I’m very happy as it is the fans who have given it to me – so I’m very appreciative”
“It’s a fantastic achievement because I don’t think there has ever been as many quality African players in top-level international football as there are now: Aubameyang, Pitroipa, Mikel, Moses, Salomon Kalou, Gervinho… we have fantastic players.
“I also think African football is improving and that means a lot to us. And as an African, I’m very happy.”
The shortlist for the award was drawn up by 44 football experts across Africa, who based their choices on players’ skill, technical ability, teamwork, consistency and fair play.
A record number of fans voted for their favourite either online or by text message, and the fans have considered Toure to be the standout African player over the past year, in recognition of the Ivorian’s displays of power, pace, creativity and goals.
Toure said: “Thank you to all the fans around the world who continue to support me. It shows how much fans love you and appreciate your job as well.
“It’s something special because it’s not the vote of the manager or the club or the captain of the national team, it’s just the fans.
When you have a lot of fans behind you, it’s always amazing.”
Though Toure didn’t win any silverware with club or country this year, he has scored 13 times this year, with four goals coming directly from set-pieces so far in the league this term in a total of seven goals for his club.
Allied to his clinical finishing, Toure’s drive and leadership have helped City to fourth in the league table. He was also a key figure in Ivory Coast’s successful qualification for next year’s World Cup finals in Brazil.
Off the field, Toure has led the fight against racism after suffering abuse during a Champions League match against Russia’s CSKA Moscow in October – demonstrating a strength of character to match his sporting ability. The unsavoury episode might have affected the form of lesser players, but Toure has been exceptional ever since.
And in the fifth consecutive year he has been nominated for the BBC African Footballer of the Year award, Toure has finally been voted the best player on the continent.
