CAF awards shocker! Stolen verdict, they say

Ghanaian international Samuel Osei Kuffour has become accustomed to disappointments in life. At least, the Nou Camp lesson in May 1999 has given him the thick skin to withstand the shocks of life.

But last Tuesday’s stolen verdict at the MTN CAF Awards night in Johannesburg touched the very core of the young man’s emotions, as what many believe legitimately belongs to him was handed over to a Senegalese who can hardly light a candle before him, for political expedience.

The Bayern Munich star became the unfortunate victim of ‘mafia’ tactics within the continent’s soccer governing body who denied him the African Footballer of the Year award in order to satisfy CAF President Issa Hayatou’s FIFA Presidential ambitions.

Fearing that the Cameroonian may have lost Ghana’s votes on May 28 as a result of GFA member, Abedi Pele’s dominant role in championing the cause of incumbent Joseph Sepp Blatter, his rival in next month’s FIFA election in Seoul, the Francophone members within CAF’s inner circle handed El-Hadji Diouf Kuffour’s crown in order to secure Senegal’s vote. Like many such open robberies in sports, Kuffour left the Rainbow nation heartbroken but with more support, sympathy and pride as the people’s champion.

Minutes after the CAF executives met to change the course of history, the 25-year-old defender was handed the crown he won as the BBC African Player of the Year. But for his controversial exit at the Mali 2002 tournament, Kuffour would have been decorated last February.

The BBC African Service Sports Producer, Jenny Horrocks, who presented him with the award called the Ghanaian “the People’s Best Footballer.” “Football is played for the fans and if they vote Kuffour as the best in Africa, then that’s more legitimate than an award decided by just a handful of people,” she told Graphic Sports after last Tuesday’s shameful night to celebrate African football.

Before the diabolical act, there was no iota of doubt that the UEFA Champions League crown, the World Club Cup and an MVP award, as well as the Bundesliga title made Kuffour the obvious winner of the 2001 award. Hayatou called the defender to congratulate him as the winner on the morning of the awards night, even to the displeasure of some CAF officials.

Minutes later, the Sowetan newspaper, one of the sponsors of the event, took pictures of Kuffour holding the crown at the Gold Reef Hotel for early publication. They even took the player to their offices for several photos to be used in subsequent publications.

MTN, the main sponsors, were hoping to sign a sponsorship deal with the Bayern star, now a hero among African fans, for their adverts and promotion in Anglophone countries. But only hours before the spectacular show at the 14-storey Sandton Convention Centre, rumours of the plot became rife, especially after Diouf entered Johannesburg without a visa, with a 10-member contingent.

And when some CAF officials began making eye- brow-raising movements during the function, it was clear the plot had been hatched. No wonder the Senegalese government sponsored a 10-man delegation to grace the occasion. As rumours began to circulate, some members of the Ghanaian media present briefed Kuffour to ‘expect the unexpected,’ which somehow helped him to contain the shock when the decision was eventually announced.

He told Graphic Sports that he even suspected something sinister when CAF executive member, Amadou Diakite of Mali, Hayatou and Diouf walked towards the washroom and returned minutes later during the show. All the same, the Ghanaian just hoped it was just a dream.

Two of the most influential members of the CAF Media Committee, Emmanuel Maradas and Mark Gleeson of BBC, confirmed the plot. And when their fears became real, Gleeson announced to some close colleagues that henceforth he would have nothing to with the tainted CAf awards.

Maradas, the publisher of African Soccer Magazine, was more diplomatic afterwards. “As a member of the jury it will be unfair for me to disclose what we did in the committee. As a member I just have to accept the rule of the game, even though I’m not in agreement with the way things have happened,” he told the Graphic Sports.

Asante Kotoko’s Chief Executive, Mr Herbert Mensah, was equally livid at the tainted awards. “I think the awards did not give the feeling of objectivity. Clearly, it was an award taken over by the French-speaking executive of CAF and also a manipulation of an event to campaign for Hayatou.”

Even for the organisers of the ceremony, African Soccer TV, who openly declared their support for Hayatou’s bid, they now fear of the fallouts of last Tuesday’s MTN CAF Awards. As at Thursday evening, African Soccer TV were working out ways of disassociating themselves from the selection process which is solely the duty of CAF.

Christopher Bongo, the Marketing Director of the organising body, was equally angry at the turn of events and its implications. “It’s not because you are a Ghanaian, but there’s only one winner here and that’s Kuffour. I don’t know when and how the verdict changed,” he told the Graphic Sports.

It was not surprising that the RC Lens striker was handed the trophy by Hayatou without much fanfare. Even the presence of Kuffour was not acknowledged, and the runner-up trophies for him and Cameroon’s Samuel E’to Fils (who boycotted the event) were not presented. When the announcement was made, some of the Ghanaian delegation and Kuffour sympathisers staged a walkout in protest.

Perhaps, the flashlights of photographers were the most dominant as the applause from the guests was not strong and sustained for such a coveted prize. While Kuffour seemed to have taken all in good stride, his wife Francisca was more hurt as she sobbed uncontrollably all night, having left their six-month-old baby in Munich only to be embarrassed.

The embarrassment and disappointment were rubbed on coach Emmanuel Afranie, who lost the Coach of the Year race to Senegal’s French coach, Bruno Mestu, while Afranie’s Satellites’ lost the Team of the Year to Senegal’s Lions of Teranga.

In fact, Ghana’s coachhene was not destined for an award last Tuesday. Not only was his presence not acknowledged, but also his picture in the official brochure was replaced with that of Fred Osam Duodu. Derek Boateng had his share of disappointment too. He was stranded at his hotel and only made his way to the venue long after Angola’s Pedro Mantorras beat him to the Young Player of the Year Award.

Although it was a well-organised event attended by 760 guests, the fallout could hit CAF’s integrity even harder and hurt Hayatou’s fragile contest with FIFA boss Blatter. As for Ghana’s votes in the May 28 election, Sports Minister Edward Osei Kwaku (who also presented a prize) said the country would have to take a strong position on it.