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BUSINESS DAY
C002D5556
Sports
Friday 28 September 2018
Opinions divided over FIFA FIFPro World XI, Best Player Awards Stories by Anthony Nlebem
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t a star-studded gala night in London on Monday night, September 24th the FIFA FIFPro World XI 2018 was announced, with some big names like Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Athletico Madrid’s point man, Antoine Griezmann conspicuously missing out while there were some questionable inclusions on list to leave fans confused. A remarkable history was also made on the night as Croatian midfielder and Modric and Brazilian Marta scooped the top prizes at Best FIFA Football Awards. Modric and Marta were named winners of the Best FIFA Men’s and Women’s Player Awards respectively. The second edition of the awards took place at the Royal Festival Hall. Modric was rewarded for a superb year at club and international level, having first helped Real Madrid clinch their third consecutive UEFA Champions League title. He then captained Croatia to a maiden FIFA World Cup final, where they ultimately fell to a 4-2 defeat to France. The 33-year-old, who was named the tournament’s best player, saw off competition from Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah to claim the top men’s prize today. His victory marked the first time since 2007 that neither Ronaldo nor Argentina’s Lionel Messi have claimed the FIFA Player of the Year award. “It was an unbelievable season, the best season in my life,” said Mo-
dric. “I’m still not realising how good a year I had collectively, individually, and I’m very proud for everything I achieved this year and it will be remembered forever.” For the first time in 12 years, Messi was not among the finalists with third place going to Salah for his incredible 44-goal debut season with Liverpool that carried the Reds to the Champions League final. But on the contrary, Manchester United safest hand, David de Gea, who was not in the three-man shortlist for The Best FIFA Goalkeeper award, made the FIFPro World XI ahead of Kasper Schmeichel, Hugo Lloris and Best FIFA Goalkeeper of the year, Thibaut Courtois. Also, in the list is Dani Alves, who missed the 2018 FIFA World Cup due to injury and is yet to play a single game in the 2018/19 season for PSG, yet he was chosen at the right-back slot. Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, central defensive partners for European champions Real Madrid, were almost guaranteed a spot and the four-man defence was completed by their club teammate Marcelo. Traditionally, the FIFA FIFPro World XI has always been in a 4-3-3 formation and that’s why the midfield picks raised quite a few eyebrows as well. N’Golo Kante, who starred for France en route to their World Cup triumph and was largely outstanding for club Chelsea, anchors the midfield along with Croatian midfielder and Best FIFA Men’s Player —Luka Modric. It’s the third inclusion, however, that left many baffled as winger Eden Hazard slotted in a three-man midfield.
The diminutive winger had a good season for club Chelsea and has begun the new campaign on a blistering note, while his World Cup exploits for Belgium piqued the interest of Real Madrid. However, it would be inconceivable to ever see the attacker play such a deep role in a football match and yet, the Blues man features in midfield. Up top, it’s the familiar duo of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and they are partnered by France and Paris Saint-Germain wonderkid
Kylian Mbappe. Considering Mohamed Salah was shortlisted for the Best FIFA Men’s Player award, his absence is bewildering, as is Antoine Griezmann’s. Griezmann’s goals powered France to a World Cup title, while Salah was sensational for club Liverpool in the 2017/18 season, very nearly ensuring a UEFA Champions League crown. Messi was largely on fire for club Barcelona, but the Catalans flattered to deceive in continental competition
and it’s widely agreed that he had a sub-par World Cup in Russia too. Die hard fans of the Portuguese feel he deserved the FIFA Best Player Award after his illustrious performance that helped Real Madrid claim the Champions League for a third successive time. Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes put it bluntly: “it is simply ridiculous.” Fans now question the eligibility, authenticity and the credibility of the FIFA Awards as it negates the general or major opinions of estimated 3.5 billions football fans.
L-R: Carla Sojinrin, head, not-for-profit unit, Sterling Bank Plc; Ibrahim Hussein, representative of district 4, 2nd Position; Faruq Akinsemoye, representative of district 4, 1st position; Issac Daniel, representative of district 6, 3rd position all in the sprint junior boy category at the grand finale of the 3rd edition of the School Cycling Challenge organized by the African Foundation and sponsored by Sterling Bank Plc, held in Lagos recently.
Why I invited Dangote, Otedola to FIFA Best Awards- Pinnick … Says NFF on a drive to financial autonomy
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resident of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick has spoken on why he invited business moguls Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola to the 2018 edition of the FIFA Best Awards ceremony held in London on Monday night, September 24th. Dangote, who holds Nigeria’s second highest national honour (GCON) is the President of Dangote Group and is ranked as the richest person of African descent in the world. The Dangote Group has interests in various commodities in Nigeria and other African countries. Alongside oil baron Otedola, Dangote was conspicuous at the Awards, and both met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the crème de la crème of world football in the British capital. “Alhaji Dangote is perhaps the biggest business brand in Africa, and one of Nigeria’s leading Ambassadors. I am very happy to be in a position to invite him and Otedola to such an
event of global stature and essence. “As a nation, it is important that we continue to showcase our best brands in all fields. Doing this enhances the
stock of our country globally. Alhaji Dangote and Otedola were happy to meet the world’s top governors of football and the football governors
Amaju Melvin Pinnick (2nd left), NFF President; Aliko Dangote (3rd left), President of Dangote Group; Gianni Infantino (3rd right), FIFA President; Femi Otedola (right); Seyi Akinwunmi (2nd right), NFF 1st VP and Shehu Dikko (left), NFF 2nd VP in London on Monday night for the FIFA Best Players Awards.
were also happy to meet them. “Our objective as a Football Federation is to attain financial autonomy so that the Government can channel resources otherwise taken up by football into other critical sectors, and we believe that if we have persons like Dangote and Otedola partnering with Nigerian Football, we will get there faster,” said Pinnick, who is also the 1st Vice President of the Confederation of African Football. Dangote is reportedly worth over $15 billion. “The NFF has invited Alhaji Dangote to a couple of matches previously, including the friendly match with England in London before the FIFA World Cup in Russia, but he was unable to attend. Now, we are discussing with him on a relationship with Nigerian Football and he is showing immense interest.” Presently, AITEO is Nigerian Football’s biggest partner, with a five –year agreement for payment of coaches of the various National Teams, sponsorship of the annual
AITEO Cup for men and women and sponsorship of the annual NFF/ AITEO Awards. It can be recalled that Pinnick also invited Benedict Peters, who is the Executive Vice Chairman/ CEO of AITEO Group to the last FIFA Best Awards ceremony in London. Francis Peters, his deputy, represented him. This year, AITEO was represented by Executive Director, Andrew Onyearu, as Peters was in New York to receive an award for the company from FORBES magazine. “Football has tremendous capacity to be self-sustaining and even contribute significantly to the national GDP. That is the station we are targeting at the moment. “I also want to use this opportunity to appreciate our other sponsors and partners, Coca Cola, Zenith Bank, Nigeria Breweries Plc, NIKE, Cadbury Plc, WAPIC Insurance, Emzor Pharmaceuticals, TGI, 1XBET, Peak Milk, Payporte for making us to attain the present 65 per cent private sector – funding status,” said Pinnick.